Monday, January 11, 2016

The 110th Denver National Western Stock Show Parade!


Hello! I'm glad to be back on my blog.  I am recovering well from eye surgery and appreciated all your well wishes and prayers. I was happy to be able to attend the 110th annual Denver National Western Stock Show Parade on Thursday, January 7th.  This annual event is the "kick-off" to the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo, held at the National Western Center in Denver, Colorado. (All photos in this post will enlarge for easier viewing if clicked on)


The parade begins every year with a herd of Texas long-horned cattle being driven down 17th Street, from Union Station towards a turn off a block before the Brown Palace Hotel. It is a sight to see!


The cattle are well controlled by cowboys and cowgirls, as they walk by almost close enough to touch!  If you'd like to see a short video I took of the longhorns in the parade you can click here to watch it on my blog's Facebook page


This cowboy was ready to lasso any cattle that tried to getaway!


Click to enlarge to see the special guests and dignitaries in the parade.  The parade Grand Marshall was Rich Karlis, a football placekicker who played 9 years for the Denver Broncos.


There were many rodeo representatives and rodeo stars in the parade--this is just a small portion of them.


 The Westernaires were well represented.


The Westernaires are a nonprofit organization in Jefferson County, comprised of over 1,000 youth ages 9 to 19 that learn responsibility, self-respect, and leadership through horsemanship.


Is there anything that evokes the west more than cowboys on horseback?


Also included were the hard-working tractors of Colorado farmers and ranchers.


The Grizzly Rose country bar, nightclub and dance hall had a band on their float.


 The Grizzly Rose "Mountain Man" led his dogs and two burros in the parade.


Colorado State University is one of the sponsors of the parade. They offered a fundraiser barbecue buffet lunch, held at the Wells Fargo building prior to the parade, that my husband and I also enjoyed--coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans and pulled pork sandwich, with cookies for dessert.


Another large group of Westernaire youth


Westernaires has provided training in western riding, precision drills, and horse care for the past 67 years.


Next, was the Jefferson County High School Rodeo Team, which is comprised of around 40 boys and girls from various high schools around Jefferson County, that learn and compete in rodeo skills.


There was a little bit of levity towards the end of the parade when one of the ladies dressed in the ball suit to promote the lottery, slipped on some of the "horse droppings" and fell over. She was quite helpless getting up due to the awkwardness of the suit, but her co-marchers helped her up and she had a good laugh and kept marching as the crowd cheered!


That episode shows why the official end to the parade is the much-needed street sweepers.


After the parade, my husband and I walked over to see the Christmas decorations in the Brown Palace Hotel lobby. Formal tea was being served so I could not take too many photos.  I celebrated a birthday and had tea in the Brown Palace Hotel a few years ago. If you'd like to see that blog post, click here.


The day after the stock show parade the Denver area had another snowfall. This has been a very damp and cold winter so far in the West, due to the El Nino weather systemthe USA is experiencing. I looked out my window in the morning to see this group of deer sitting in the snow under my neighbor's large pine tree. They seemed very content to wait out the snow and stay warm this way.  It reminded me of this quote:

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Patience seems like a good word for the New Year for me--I'm patiently healing and patiently enjoying the beauty of winter.  I hope your first days of 2016 have also been good ones!


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43 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, the parade looks like fun! The long horn cattle are awesome and I love all the horses. The food sounds yummy. Cute shots of the deer in the snow. I hope your eye is healing well. Happy Monday, enjoy your new week!

SmilingSally said...

Hi Pat,

I'm glad to learn that you're on the GOOD SIDE of surgery.

I love parades! This was a super one. Lots of blue-wearing cowboys.

Isn’t it fun finding blues to share?

Happy Blue Monday!

The Furry Gnome said...

Glad your eye surgery went well! Those cattle walking down the street are awesome!

Breathtaking said...

Hello Pat!:) Wow! What an awesome parade. The horses are so well trained, and loved seeing all those long horns.Pretty snow scenes too!
Glad you are recovering from your operation.:)

Linda Kay said...

Great parade, Pat....but those longhorns belong in Texas! What are they doing up north? ;-)

Linda W. said...

Enjoyed your parade photos! Glad to hear you are recovering well from your eye surgeries.

DrillerAA09 said...

Who doesn't love a parade and who doesn't love cowboys & cowgirls? Great set of images. Thanks for sharing them with us.

riitta k said...

What a colorful parade ! It surely was fun.

NCSue said...

Awesome shots!
So glad to hear you're recovering. Thanks for joining us again at http://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2016/01/shells-on-shells.html

Donna said...

Pat I am happy you are better! NAd what a fun parade...unusual in this neck of the woods so I would love it! Enjoy the patience of nature....it has helped heal me.

Donna@GardensEyeView
and LivingFromHappiness

Ann said...

I just love cowboys and horses, reminds me of my birthplace where cowboys are the norm. I;m infatuated with Mountain Man!!
ann

bj said...

OOO, how fun this must have been. We love parades...especially ones as good as this....
I am going to put this on our Bucket List and maybe we could go next year.
I do hope I can remember about it.....

Anonymous said...

That is such an amazing event! Love seeing all those horses and cattle!

Al said...

What a great parade. We've certainly had a snowy start to the winter - I wonder what's in store for March and April?

Anonymous said...

That looks like it would be an amazing parade to see! So glad to hear you are recovering well from the eye surgery. I always enjoy all the deer you share.

Unknown said...

This parade looks like great fun. I love seeing the long horned cattle and cowboys. Also enjoyed your photos of the deer. Happy New Year. Visiting vie image-in-ing's Wordless Wednesday.

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Glad to hear you are recovering from eye surgery. The colour in that parade are fantastic.

Anonymous said...

Marvellous shots - and so nice to hear you are healing.

From the Kitchen said...

That is truly an awesome parade! When we lived in Texas, those long horns were all about us on huge ranches but I never saw them in a parade. So glad that you are doing well and could share this spectacle with us. Now I'm off to have a look at your birthday tea.

Best,
Bonnie

Willow said...

Lovely post, Pat. To think that driving cattle down 'main street' was a normal activity for the West of former years.
I like your word for the year--patience.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Love the parade! Your pics made me feel as if I were standing right there on the sidewalk. And how great that the weather cooperated , waiting to snow until the next day. It all sounds like so much fun and the deer that you could see in your neighbors yard are so special. "See" being the most important word here! So glad all is going well and wishing continued smooth sailing. And admiring your patience.

carol l mckenna said...


Glad to hear your eyes are healing well ~ You are having the best time in your new State ~ fantastic photos of the delightful parade and love the deer shots in the snow ~ (my favorite)

Wishing you a joyful week, ^_^

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

My hubby and I would enjoy this parade, we spend a lot of time watching old westerns.
Hello to your pet deer, heart warming to see them on your FB.
Hopefully your vision is pretty good by now Pat, bet you're glad that's all behind you now.

Anonymous said...

Am glad your eye is recovering well! I didn't know the Westenairies were such a big thing! With so many horns, I think I would stay at a distance:)

Lorrie said...

Hello Pat,
Glad to hear that your eye surgery went well. Patience is a word that is needed afterwards!
What a great parade. Those longhorn cattle are really something. And the Old Mountain Man with his burro would have been interesting to see.
Those deer look so sweet under the trees in the snow.

Have a good week.

A Colorful World said...

Glad you are recovering! The parade looks wonderful! Would love to see it some time. Great photos! Sweet deer at the end. Awesome post!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Looked like a great parade. Glad the snow held off until it was over! We had big rodeos and shock shows in Houston when I lived in Texas....

We finally have some cold weather here --after a very wet and WARM December... Yesterday--we took our morning walk in SIX DEGREE temps... Brrrrrr.

So glad your 2nd surgery went well and that you are back on your feet --and can SEE better.

Hugs,
Betsy

Mary Howell Cromer said...

It seems that I remember you attending this and sharing once before and this time was just as much fun to see. My favorites would be the Long Horn Steers. I hope that you are feeling well by now Pat~

La Petite Gallery said...

Been a long time that I have seen a long horn, I am so glad you are getting
better, that is one thing I am frighted of my eye's.
They told me I have Glaucoma. I have to go for test's a lot.
Take Care, hope you have a light winter. yvonne

Grace said...

I loved this post how fun! Longhorns are so cool. In Fort Worth Texas I had seen them and instantly fell in love. Hope you are healing quickly Grace oxo

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Wow Pat, what a great day you must have had. The parade was wonderful, and those longhorns are really special animals. Glad you're feeling better and getting out and about.

Villrose said...

Real cowboys/girls!
Heroes of my childhood :)

La Petite Gallery said...

Thanks for the comment. I have been thinking of being an independent.
I missed the mud sling last night. Do think Rubio is the only Class act running.
Looks like we have 4 lotto winners. Sad thing is the very poor are the one's hurt.
Maine has so much gambling and we must be at the top for poverty. The tax money from the Gambling hasn't helped. The schools are closing, the roads are bad and
all the politicians have their own Jet planes. Go figure.???
yvonne

Mersad said...

A wonderful festivity. Thanks for sharing with "Through my Lens"

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina said...

My goodness, Pat, that's quite the parade! Look at all of those long horn steer! I'm so glad that you've recovered nicely and wish you a wonderful 2016!
Roz

eileeninmd said...

Hello Pat, thanks so much for linking up your post. This is a great critter post, with many wonderful photos. Have a happy weekend!

Lea said...

What a fantastic parade!
Love all your photos!

sandyland said...

lovely and fun

AdriBarr said...

Benvenuta! I am so happy to see you posting again. I am glad the surgeries are behind you, and I hope that you are pleased with the outcome. Our eyesight is precious indeed, and it is something that can too easily be taken for granted.

It looks like you had a great time at the show, an I am jus so very glad you were able to attend and that you felt frisky enough to write about it! All the best to you for a healthy and productive 2016.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

Fun parade. Love your snowy scenes and the deer.
Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY!
Blessings,
Cindy

Barb said...

I missed this post, Pat. Love all the cowboys/cowgirls and the beautiful horses. I used to want to be a cowgirl when I was little! Glad you're healing well. Bob has his cataract surgery scheduled for end of April.

Art and Sand said...

What a fun site and experience the parade must have been. I can't imagine all the cattle walking down a main street of town.

On my only visit to Denver, we went to the Brown Palace and it was beautiful.

Thanks for Sharing Your Cup!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the great photos! I loved seeing the parade, especially the Longhorns! And, I'm really glad I wasn't on clean-up duty!