On January 17, Fort Worth is going full Western. The legendary All Western Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. downtown. Over 3,000 horses will thunder down Main Street. Riding clubs from across the nation. Law enforcement mounted units. The TCU Band. Charros and Escaramuzas in full regalia. This is what Cowtown looks like when it honors its roots.
And it’s been happening since 1898.
The Parade That Started It All
The Fort Worth Stock Show All Western Parade began the same year as the first official Stock Show—1898. That first parade marched down North Main Street with brass bands, mule-drawn floats, and whooping cowboys firing six-shooters from horseback. Ranchers hitched their cattle to hotel fences. Merchants donated prizes: saddles, spurs, windmills, and at least one confused rancher’s wooden bathtub.
That was 128 years ago. The parade has never stopped. It’s the oldest continuously running western parade in America, part of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo—the oldest continuously running livestock show in the nation.
Why Fort Worth Built This Thing
The whole story starts in 1896. A group of Texas ranchers—Capt. William S. Ikard of Henrietta, I. K. Kimberlin of Sherman, Col. J. W. Burgess of Fort Worth, and Col. B. C. Rhome—decided Fort Worth needed a livestock show. They partnered with the Fort Worth Stock Yards Company, major meatpacking operations, and railroad companies.
That first show happened in March along Marine Creek—no buildings, no enclosures, just oak trees for shade and a rickety grandstand in the mud (which a steer charged and destroyed). It was freezing, snowing, sleeting. Maybe 20 animals showed up. Ranchers came from Mineral Wells, Alvarado, and Weatherford in wagons and on horseback. Some herds were still being driven on cattle trails.
It was rough. It was authentic. It worked.
The organizers immediately planned a fall show in October 1896 to coincide with the National Livestock Exchange Convention. That’s when the first parade happened—and it became tradition.
From Backyard Exhibition to Cowtown Icon
By 1903, Swift & Company and Armour & Company opened major meatpacking facilities in Fort Worth, bringing $6 million into the economy in the first month alone. The Stock Show wasn’t just a livestock exhibition anymore. It was Fort Worth’s economic engine.
The event grew rapidly. In 1908, they built the North Side Coliseum—hailed as “the most opulent and dynamic livestock pavilion in the Western Hemisphere.” It had broad skylights, elegant incandescent lighting, and a name that changed to match the event’s growth: the National Feeders and Breeders Show.
Then came 1918. The world’s first indoor rodeo happened at the North Side Coliseum. Ray McKinley and W.O. Rominger pitched the idea. Twelve performances total—two per day for six days. Events included ladies bronc riding, junior steer riding, men’s bucking bronco, and a wild horse race where unbroken horses were released and cowboys had to jump on and leap between them with no saddle or bridle.
Wild West Show performers competed for a $3,000 prize. An estimated 23,000 people attended. Fort Worth had created something historic.
The Legends Who Made It Real
By 1919, President Woodrow Wilson himself launched the event from the White House by pushing a button to turn on the coliseum’s electric lights. That’s how big this thing had become.
The parade grew legendary. Chief Quanah Parker led dozens of Comanche and Kiowa braves in the 1909 parade. An “electric tandem” rider wore hundreds of red, white, and blue lights while carrying a 225-pound battery to power them. There was a live panther that rode on horseback. Theodore Roosevelt showed up for a sing-along breakfast.
The innovations came fast. Black cowboy Bill Pickett introduced bulldogging in 1904—biting a steer on the lip and manhandling it to the ground (later became steer wrestling). Through the years, trick riding, roping, hurdle jumping, shearing wild mules, and potato races became standard.
In 1933, Fort Worth Stock Show introduced Brahma bull riding to the world. It’s now one of the five major events in professional rodeo and considered “the most dangerous and surely the most exciting event of rodeos.”
In 1932, NBC broadcast the first-ever live rodeo. In 1958, 8 million viewers tuned into ABC to see guest stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the first complete live television coverage of a rodeo.
What You’re Actually Seeing This Year
The 2026 All Western Parade is massive. Over 3,000 horses are expected—beating the 2023 record of 2,800. The parade features:
Riding clubs from across the United States and Mexico. These aren’t casual riders. These are serious horsemen and women who come to Fort Worth specifically for this parade.
Law enforcement mounted units including Fort Worth Police, U.S. Border Patrol Rio Grande and Laredo sectors, Texas Department of Public Safety Capital Police, Dallas County Sheriff’s Posse Reserves, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Department, and mounted units from Arlington, Dallas, Grand Prairie, Lubbock, and McKinney.
The TCU Band opening the parade with energy and precision.
Charros and Escaramuzas in full traditional regalia—Fort Worth’s strong Charro and Escaramuza culture on full display.
Vintage wagons and horse-drawn vehicles. No motorized vehicles in this parade. It’s all horses, all Western heritage, all authentic.
Marching groups, civic organizations, and dignitaries.
It’s a sight that makes you understand why Fort Worth calls itself Cowtown.
The Route & How to Actually Attend
The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Friday, January 17 at Main and Weatherford Streets, just south of the old Tarrant County Courthouse. From there it heads south on Main toward the Fort Worth Convention Center.
You can watch for free standing anywhere along the route. But if you want reserved seating:
Convention Center seating: $15 per person
Sundance Square seating: $25 per person (includes face painters and balloon artists)
Tickets must be purchased in advance on Ticketmaster or at the Dickies Box Office starting Monday, December 1. Critical: Tickets purchased on or after January 1st are WILL CALL ONLY. You must pick them up at the Dickies Arena Box Office before the parade. No tickets will be mailed after January 1st.
Order fees of $4 are added to each Ticketmaster order. If mailing is requested (before January 1st), a $6 mail fee applies.
Why This Matters
The Fort Worth Stock Show All Western Parade isn’t just a parade. It’s a living connection to Cowtown’s real history. When you stand on Main Street and watch 3,000 horses pass, you’re watching the same tradition that started in 1898 when Fort Worth was a cattle town with no buildings and everything to prove.
The parade represents what Fort Worth became: a major city that never forgot where it came from. Cowboys and ranchers. Stockyards and meatpacking. The partnership between private enterprise and public celebration that built modern Fort Worth.
Every January, the parade reminds Cowtown who it is.
Your Action Plan
Tickets go on sale Monday, December 1 (the Monday after Thanksgiving). Get them early because Sundance Square seating sells out.
Mark January 17 on your calendar. Show up downtown by 10:30 a.m. to find a spot along the route if you’re watching for free. If you have reserved seating, arrive early enough to find your section and settle in.
Bring family. Bring friends. Bring someone who’s never experienced what a real Western parade looks like. This is what 128 years of tradition looks like when a city actually honors it.
The All Western Parade kicks off at 11 a.m. Main Street goes Western. And Fort Worth reminds everyone why it’s Cowtown.
The Details
Fort Worth Stock Show All Western Parade 2026
Date: Friday, January 17, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. start
Location: Downtown Fort Worth
- Start: Main and Weatherford Streets (south of old Tarrant County Courthouse)
- Route: South on Main Street toward Fort Worth Convention Center
Admission: FREE to watch from along the parade route
Reserved Seating Tickets:
- Convention Center: $15 per person
- Sundance Square: $25 per person (includes face painters and balloon artists)
Ticket Purchase:
- Sales begin: Monday, December 1, 2025
- Online: Ticketmaster.com
- In-person: Dickies Box Office
Critical Ticket Info:
- Tickets purchased on or after January 1st are WILL CALL ONLY
- Must be picked up at Dickies Arena Box Office (1911 Montgomery Street) BEFORE the parade
- NO tickets will be mailed after January 1st
- NO online purchases after January 11th
- Order fees: $4 per order (all orders)
- Mail fees: $6 per order (if requested before January 1st)
What to Expect:
- Over 3,000 horses (record-breaking participation)
- Riding clubs from United States and Mexico
- Law enforcement mounted units (Fort Worth Police, U.S. Border Patrol, Texas DPS, Sheriffs’ departments from multiple counties)
- TCU Marching Band
- Charros and Escaramuzas in traditional regalia
- Vintage wagons and horse-drawn vehicles
- No motorized vehicles—all horses and traditional Western modes of transportation
Parade Theme: Celebration of Western heritage, Fort Worth’s Charro culture, and the Stock Show tradition
Historical Significance:
- First parade: 1898
- Oldest continuously running Western parade in America
- Part of Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo (founded 1896, oldest continuously running livestock show in the nation)
- 128 years of continuous tradition
History of Fort Worth Stock Show & All Western Parade
1896: Fort Worth Stock Show founded by Texas ranchers including Capt. William S. Ikard, I. K. Kimberlin, Col. J. W. Burgess, and Col. B. C. Rhome. First show held in March along Marine Creek with minimal animals and no buildings.
1896 (October): First official parade held to coincide with National Livestock Exchange Convention. Brass bands, mule-drawn floats, cowboys firing six-shooters.
1898: First All Western Parade held alongside the Stock Show—tradition established.
1903: Major economic milestone—Swift & Company and Armour & Company open meatpacking facilities, bringing $6 million into Fort Worth economy in first month alone.
1908: North Side Coliseum built (now Cowtown Coliseum), described as “the most opulent and dynamic livestock pavilion in the Western Hemisphere.”
1909: Chief Quanah Parker led Comanche and Kiowa braves in parade; “Indian village” set up.
1918: World’s first indoor rodeo held at North Side Coliseum with 23,000 attendees and $3,000 prize pool.
1919: President Woodrow Wilson launches event from White House by turning on coliseum lights via remote button.
1933: Brahma bull riding introduced (now one of five major professional rodeo events worldwide).
1932: NBC produces first-ever live radio broadcast of a rodeo.
1944: Stock Show moves to Will Rogers Memorial Center.
1958: First complete live television coverage of rodeo—8 million viewers watch ABC broadcast with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans.
1968: Fort Worth Stock Show becomes first rodeo to receive complete live national television coverage on NBC.
1978: PRCA single-rodeo earnings record broken when Tom Ferguson won $12,873.
2020: Dickies Arena opens, designed specifically for rodeo athletes; Stock Show moves operations there. FWSSR ProRodeo Tournament debuts with $1,272,000 purse—one of richest rodeos worldwide.
2023: Parade sets record with 2,800 horses; Stock Show sets attendance record with 1.27 million visitors and $142 million local economic impact.
2026: Over 3,000 horses expected to break participation record; 130 years of continuous parade tradition.
Why This Parade Matters
The All Western Parade represents authentic Western culture preserved through 128 years of continuous tradition. Fort Worth built this parade in 1898 as part of a livestock exhibition and never stopped. As the city modernized into a major metropolitan area, the parade remained—a living connection to Cowtown’s real history and identity.
This isn’t a tourist attraction created for money. This is a community celebrating itself and its heritage. Every January, over 3,000 horses, hundreds of riders, marching bands, and thousands of spectators participate in a parade that looks almost exactly like it did in 1898.
That’s cultural continuity. That’s Cowtown.
Contact & Information
Ticket Sales & Information:
- Ticketmaster: ticketmaster.com
- Dickies Box Office: 1911 Montgomery Street, Fort Worth
- Phone: 817-502-0011
- Email: general inquiry through FWSSR website
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo:
- Website: fwssr.com
- Runs: January 16 – February 3, 2026
Downtown Fort Worth Information:
- Visit Fort Worth: visitfortworth.com
- Downtown Fort Worth: downtownfortworth.com
Parking & Transit:
- Street parking available throughout downtown
- Public parking garages available
- DART transit to downtown Fort Worth
Key Quotes
“The Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo All Western Parade is really a sight to behold with a wonderful cross-section of western tradition combined with a celebration of the city’s strong Charro and Escaramuza culture.” – Parade Co-Chairman Phillip Schutts
“It’s why the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo is the most authentic western lifestyle experience anywhere – since 1896. It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s 23 days of what makes Fort Worth the greatest city in Texas!”
