The smell of livestock was rich in Denver Thursday at high noon. Horses, longhorn steers, and even alpacas, mingled with people as they paraded along 17th Street through the financial district, from Union Station to Broadway.
Roughly 300 people to a block swarmed the streets and hung out of balconies along the route to get a good look at the animals, and cowgirls and cowboys dressed in Western finery.
The Stock Show parade has acted as the kicking off to the National Western Stock Show for decades, canceled due to weather only once — last year — spokeswoman Karen Woods said.
“We had riding groups from across the state,” parade coordinator Debbie Mills said after the parade on Thursday. “We had people coming from as far Breckenridge.”
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A cowboy fires up the crowd with a YEEEHAAA!!! as the the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade heads straight up 17th Street in downtown Denver. Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
The first of the Longhorn cattle are driven up 17th Street as the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade startes in downtown Denver. Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Over 40 Longhorn cattle pile together to be loaded into trailers after the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Emmet Dobling, 2 1/2, watches the National Western Stockshow parade on his father Brian's (hidden) shoulders on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Children pet a horse during the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are paraded through downtown to open the National Western Stockshow on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Emmet Dobling, 2 1/2, watches the National Western Stockshow parade on his father Brian's shoulders on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Children in cowboy hats wait for the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
A crowd watches the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
A cowboy helps herd over 40 Longhorn cattle walk through the streets of downtown during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Children in cowboy hats watch the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Children in cowboy hats watch the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
The Westernaire Horse Drill Team walks down the street after the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Max Slaughter, 6, waits for Longhorn cattle to make their way down the streets, during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade, on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Over 40 Longhorn cattle walk through the streets of downtown during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Mason James, 5, shows off his roping skills, as he waits for Longhorn cattle to make their way down the streets, during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
People line 17th Street as they wait for the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Over 40 Longhorn cattle walk through the streets of downtown during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
RJ Sangosti, The Denver Post
Over 40 Longhorn cattle walk through the streets of downtown during the National Western Stock Show kick-off parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver.
Rick Wilking, Getty Images
Longhorn steers are marched through downtown in the National Western Stockshow parade on Jan. 4, 2018 in Denver. The parade is the traditional opening to the show now in its 112th year.
Riders in the dozens of entries ranged from a pint-sized mutton buster on a stuffed sheep and a 4-year-old boy on a shaggy pony to men and women in their 70s and 80s, most sporting fancy Stetson hats and decorated cowboy boots.
The parade drew all kinds of people to the sidewalks to watch — some were ranchers, others were bona fide city slickers — but that’s the point of the parade, to pay homage to Colorado’s cowboy roots.
“That was the way cattle used to come in, cattle drives down the street,” Woods said. “Now, I think it’s just a way for the city to come out and experience the event.”
Tangeree Gillette brought her 3-year-old son, Jorryn Fletcher, along with a friend and her daughter. “The kids seem to be having fun,” she said while they watched the alpacas trot along. “They better not want a pony (after this.)”
Small “neighs” toward the horses could be heard from some youngins, including 2-year-old Isaac Mann of Thornton who plans on being a cowboy when he grows into his boots. And Sage Meads, 8, who’s been attending the parade since she was born, said it’s not better than Christmas, but it’s pretty close.
The parade also brought out full-grown cowboys, such as Breyuan Riley of Aurora, who’s wanted to attend for years but the timing was never right. Things worked out this year and he scored a prime location for himself and eight sons, daughters, nieces and nephews, more than an hour before the parade started. Riley and his family were among the few black people in the crowd.
“We’re one of the many families that are black cowboys in our neighborhood,” he said. Riley, decked in a black cowboy hat, has owned two horses for the past four years: Nugget, 9, a palomino quarter horse and Cowboy, 6, a paint.
The National Western Stock Show begins at 11 am Saturday. Some events are at the coliseum while others will be at the National Western Events Center. Check the stock show schedule of events for location, pricing and tickets.
Western Union Financial Services, a subsidiary of the Western Union Co. in Meridian, said Thursday that it reached a $60 million settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services to settle allegations if failed to protect its customers from scammers.
Construction industry professionals–in Colorado and across the nation– are bullish about what 2018 has in store for their firms. But the ability to find and hire qualified workers looms as a barrier that could hamper productivity at a time the U.S. economy is humming along.
