SPECIAL EVENTS

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo presents the 2011 Downtown Rodeo Parade.  Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011.

For 72 years, every February the nation’s fourth largest city is transformed from a bustling metropolis to a down-home celebration of Western heritage. Decorative floats intermingle with thousands of men and women on horseback to join the skyscrapers and freeways and fill the streets with hoof beats and marching bands. Enthusiastic Houstonians join out-of-town spectators to line the streets and sidewalks to be involved in one of Houston’s most popular celebrations!

The first parade, held in 1938, was being planned in the midst of the 1937 Show. J. Howard West, who was the entertainment chairman of the local community leaders, the Jaycees, suggested the idea that it should be “the pomp and ceremony of a Roman holiday.” An owner of a local advertising and public relations firm jumped on the bandwagon to plan the extravaganza. It is doubtful even the Romans could envision such a display of artistic creation and Western pride!

The first parade was led by mounted police escorts to great success! The line-up included state, county and city officials, two bands, and a drum and bugle corps, as well as special VIP guests on horseback. Today, the Downtown Rodeo Parade includes dignitaries, city, county and state officials on horseback, as well as trail riders, numerous marching bands, and colorful floats. Each float vies for coveted awards, including theme, sweepstakes, president’s choice, and grand prizes.

To celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Texas Medical Center, two of TMC's leaders served as Grand Marshals for the 2010 Downtown Rodeo Parade. Richard Wainerdi, P.E., Ph.D., president and CEO of Texas Medical Center (corporation), and James H. "Red" Duke Jr., M.D., trauma surgeon, professor of clinical sciences at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, and founder and medical director of Life Flight at Memorial Hermann – TMC, represented the 48 institutions of the Texas Medical Center as the parade kicked off the 78th Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Also riding along the parade route with the grand marshals were two children from each of the four children's hospitals in the Texas Medical Center.

Route - Click HERE to download a printable PDF of the Downtown Rodeo Parade Route.