|
Entertainment Magazine: Tucson Rodeo The 2024 Tucson Rodeo Parade New RouteThe 99th annual Tucson Rodeo Parade will take place on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. In cooperation with the City of Tucson, the new parade route will begin at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road, proceed East on Drexel to Old Nogales Highway, then turn North, ending at Irvington Road.The route change was necessitated by the decision of Union Pacific Railroad not to hold trains for the three-hours necessary, on the section of track that the parade has historically crossed on its previous route. This is the second route change for the parade in its history. In 1991, the Rodeo Parade moved from downtown streets to a route near the Tucson Rodeo Grounds that crossed the railroad tracks in two locations. This new route will keep the parade near the Rodeo Grounds but won’t cross the railroad tracks. Parking is available to the public adjacent to the grandstands at Drexel and Liberty; and at Rudy Garcia Park before 8:30 a.m., when Tucson Police close the streets to accommodate the Tucson Rodeo Parade. Parking is $5 per vehicle. Since 1991, the Tucson Rodeo Parade will have a route change. The Union Pacific said that the parade could no longer cross the railroad tracks on Ajo Way and Irvington Road near Park Avenue. The new route won't cross the tracks.The Road Parade for 2024 will be held on February 22, 2024 at 9:00am. Included in the procession will be local and national dignitaries, Native American tribal leadership and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, royalty from three rodeos and working cowboys. The League of Mexican American Women, Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus, and Mormon Battalion are entries that have been in the parade greater than 35 consecutive years. In all, the parade features over 130 entries – consisting of over 500 horses, approximately 2,300 people, 85 wagons and buggies and 8 marching bands. Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower. Entries compete in 21 prize classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards: The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry) the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes Award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele Award (Outstanding marching performance). The Tucson Rodeo Parade is the longest non-motorized parade in the nation and a 98-year Tucson tradition bringing the vibrant history and colors of the Southwest to life each February in conjunction with La Fiesta de los Vaqueros, The Tucson Rodeo. An average of 150,000 spectators line the streets in southern Tucson in anticipation of the parade. Included in the procession will be local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys. In all, the parade features over 135 entries – consisting of over 550 horses, approximately 2,200 people, 90 wagons and buggies and 10 marching bands Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower. Entries compete in 21 classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards: The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry) the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele award (Outstanding marching performance). WHERE: The parade route circles the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Entrants start at Ajo Way and Fair Avenue, travel east to Park Avenue, south on Park Avenue, west onto Irvington Road and north on Sixth Avenue where they return to the Rodeo Grounds. The route is approximately 2.5 miles in length. Parking is available to the public at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds before 8 a.m., when Tucson Police close down the streets to accommodate the Tucson Rodeo Parade. COST: The parade is FREE to spectators along most of its route. Ticketed grandstand seating that includes pre-parade entertainment is also available next to the Rodeo Grounds on Irvington Road. Grandstand tickets, available online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org, are $10 each for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. CONTACT: Call 520-294-1280 or visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org for more information. The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee appreciates the assistance of the City of Tucson and the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association in finding this new route that will offer plenty of spectator viewing opportunities. The parade is FREE to spectators along most of its route. Ticketed grandstand seating that includes pre-parade entertainment, is available at a new location on Drexel Road near Liberty Avenue. Pre-purchased grandstand tickets are $12 each for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. Limited parking is available before 8:30 a.m. adjacent to the grandstands for $5 per vehicle. Tickets are available online at www.tucsonrodeoparade.org. Included in the parade will be local and national dignitaries, Native American tribal leadership and performers, historic wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, royalty from four rodeos and working cowboys. In all, the parade features over 120 entries – consisting of over 500 horses, approximately 2,300 people, 85 wagons and buggies and 8 marching bands. Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower. PUBLIC CONTACT: Call 520-294-1280 or visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org for more information. 2024 TUCSON RODEO PARADE – VOLUNTEERS NEEDEDThe Tucson Rodeo Parade needs volunteers to help with the presentation of the 2024 Rodeo Parade. Volunteers are needed on parade day to assist with crowd control, line-up of entries, grandstand ushers, and other parade day necessities. Breakfast and lunch, as well as tickets to a Tucson Rodeo performance are provided for volunteers. No horse knowledge is required, but if you are familiar with horses, we can find a spot for you! Please visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.com/volunteers or contact volunteer organizer Sandy Kane at 520-599-5967 for more information. Read about Tucson Rodeo Parade Safety Protocols About the Tucson
Rodeo Parade and Committee The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee, Inc. (a 501c3) plans and organizes the annual Tucson Rodeo Parade, one of the longest non-motorized parades in the world, and operates the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum, a collection of more than 125 historic horse-drawn vehicles in addition to Western memorabilia. For more, visit www.tucsonrodeoparade.org. The 98th Annual Fiesta de los Vaqueros, the Tucson Rodeo Parade for 2023 is a Tucson tradition that brings the vibrant history and colors of the Southwest to life each February in conjunction with the Tucson Rodeo. The Tucson Rodeo Parade is FREE to spectators along most of its 2.5 mile route. Ticketed grandstand seating is available.
Ticketed grandstand seating that includes pre-parade entertainment is also available next to the Rodeo Grounds on Irvington Road. Grandstand tickets are $10 each for adults and $5 for children ages 12 and under. Pre-parade entertainment includes Mariachi Aztlan de Pueblo High School, the Sons of Orpheus men’s chorus, and a showdown gunfight show featuring the Pinnacle Peak Pistoleros. Entries compete in 21 classes ranging from Western Riding Groups and Historical to Most Comical and Multiple-team Hitch. There are three special awards: The Curt Sullivan Sweepstakes award (overall best entry) the Chairman’s Award and the Judge’s Award; and two special band awards named after past Parade Committee members, the Paul Grimes award (Outstanding music performance) and the Bucky Steele award (Outstanding marching performance). Continuing the tradition of no motorized entries, the entire parade is propelled by real horsepower. Tucson Rodeo Parade App Now Available The Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee is committed to producing not only the longest non-mechanized parade in the world, and one of the largest wagon museums in the country, but also enhancing the overall parade experience through their parade app. The app, sponsored by Tucson Electric Power, not only provides the users with the parade entries and announcer’s script, but also vital information for before, during, and after the parade. The app provides information on road closures, public parking, parade staging area/line-up, parade route, grandstands, first aid, lost children, local businesses, and restrooms. The app can be viewed as a list of information or overlaid on Google Maps. The app can be viewed on phone, tablet, or laptop/desktop. If spectators are not near an announcing booth, the app is a great way to follow the parade. WHAT’S NEW: The parade script will now be offered in both English and Spanish to ease the viewing for our Hispanic community. The Parade Committee’s goal is to have an image from every entry on the app and if available, each entry page could include a photo gallery from the previous year. Users will also be able to share their favorite entry with friends and family directly from the app. The app will be viewable year-round. WHERE: Downloads are FREE and available from both Google Play and the App Store. Desktop version is available at https://pointsmap.com/tucsonrodeoparade Tucson Rodeo Events Safety at the Tucson Rodeo Parade Tucson Rodeo Parade Route and Parking The parade route circles the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Entrants start at Ajo Way and Fair Avenue, travel east to Park Avenue, south on Park Avenue, west onto Irvington Road and north on Sixth Avenue where they return to the Rodeo Grounds. The route is approximately 2.5 miles in length. Parking is available to the public at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds before 8 a.m., when Tucson Police close down the streets to accommodate the Tucson Rodeo Parade. Included in the procession are local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachies, royalty from five rodeos and working cowboys. The League of Mexican-American Women and Mormon Battalion are entries that have been in the parade greater than 30 consecutive years.
 History of the Tucson
Rodeo and ParadeIn 1924, Frederick Leighton Kramer, President of the Arizona Polo Association and later recognized as the Founder of the Tucson Rodeo and Rodeo Parade, gathered a group of local business men to discuss the possibility of having a Rodeo. Continue reading about the Tucson Rodeo Parade History.  The Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum is now open. For more information about the Tucson Rodeo Parade
Tucson Parade web site: www.TucsonRodeoParade.org Tucson Rodeo web site: www.tucsonrodeo.com  Read about the Treasures of the
Santa Catalina MountainsDiscover the forgotten history and legends of the Catalina Mountains– the lost Iron Door Mine, the lost city and the lost mission; the history of Oracle and Buffalo Bill Cody's gold mines in the Catalinas. Purchase copies at the Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum. Read sample chapters, download FREE PDF and order online: Treasures of the Santa Catalina Mountains. Past Grand Marshals Tucson Rodeo Parade History Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee www.tucsonrodeoparade.org web site Tucson Parade and Rodeo Index © 1995-2024 All rights reserved. Produced by Entertainment Magazine On Line (EMOL.org) |