The Tucson Rodeo Parade came galloping back Feb. 24! The parade and rodeo both began in 1925, and this year was the 97th presentation of the Parade. Both events were canceled due to COVID last year, but now they are back!

There were many parts of the parade that stood out. One was the Girl Scout’s wagon, accompanied by Girl Scouts wearing modern and vintage uniforms. Another was the Tohono O'odham wagon, complete with handmade traditional baskets. A third was the Charros y Modelos presentation, with models in beautiful bedazzled dresses. And we certainly can’t forget the Tucson Pest Control wagon, with a pair of participants dressed as a cockroach and its cowboy handler! But one that connected with many Tucsonans was the TRAK (Therapy Ranch for Animals and Kids) horse fleet.

I interviewed two participants who rode horseback in the parade. Annie Horvath, who rode for TRAK, says, “The hardest part was remembering to smile, and the best part was feeling part of the community.” Abby Remereus, who rode for the Future Farmers of America, says, “The hardest part was riding one-handed, and the best part was hearing the announcement and applause from the spectators.” Both say that their horses got very nervous beforehand, but that hanging out with their other horse friends calmed them down.

The Tucson Rodeo Parade is quite a popular event—over 100,000 people come to watch every year. It is also the longest running non-motorized parade in the country! The Rodeo Parade is a truly unique Tucson tradition and community event.