Giddy up, Houston, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is here! Ahead of the main event, officials are kicking off the festivities with the annual Downtown Rodeo Parade this Saturday. Take a look below to discover more about how to enjoy the parade in Houston.
The Downtown Rodeo Parade is a massive annual city tradition that signifies the official start of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo season. The event regularly draws thousands to downtown Houston streets to witness a Western blend of trail riders, spectacular floats, and marching bands.
Commencing at 10 am on Saturday, February 28, the Downtown Rodeo Parade will begin at Bagby and Walker Streets near City Hall. The route travels down Walker to Travis, turns right on Travis to Bell, turns right on Bell to Louisiana. The parade will follow Louisana to Lamar, before ending at Lamar and Bagby.
For those hoping to snag a good spot for the parade, we recommend showing up early on Louisiana Street between Lamar and Bell or on Lamar Street.
This year, the Grand Marshall of the Downtown Rodeo Parade is U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan. As many of you know, Ruskan is the hero who saved 165 children during the tragic flash floods in the Texas Hill Country last year.
City officials will enact street closures for the parade, which will begin as early as 8:30 am until around 2 pm. Paid parking will be available in downtown and Theater District areas. Officials recommend the following:
- Alley Theater Garage
- Lyric Center
- One Market Square Garage
- 1100 Smith Garage
Visitors can also vie for street parking on Texas and Smith, Smith and Dallas, Smith and Preston, Walker and Main, or Smith and Clay. Officials also encourage the use of the METRORail Red Line to the Main Street Square station.