HOUSTON — The official start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is just three days away, but the party is already getting started as riders came to town for the annual parade.
The rodeo parade tradition started in 1938. In that time, you could find a lot of boot, scoot and boogieing.
Thousands filled the streets of downtown Houston to take in a sample of the wild west and festivities of the day. For quite a few people the big guys are the main attraction.
"Horses I like horses," said parade goer Ellie.
You can find plenty of them and so much more.
For more than an hour, horses, floats, marching bands, and covered wagons wound their way through the parade route. It's a tradition that gets better each year.
So many rodeo fans are Texans through and through, but people are coming from not only from all over the state, but around the country, and even places like Canada.
"Well, I’m from Montreal Quebec," said Halina Duncan.
Duncan's friend Susan Smith roped her in to making the trek to the Lone Star State. Smith lives downtown and doesn't miss a parade.
"Houston is a great city and it’s a great town to have a parade. The fans are great it’s wonderful the citizens are great," said Smith.
Duncan is finding that out for herself as she takes a break from shoveling snow back up north.
"Its very special people do not understand it across north America how special Houston is," said Duncan.