HOUSTON — The Downtown Rodeo Parade returned on Saturday, Feb. 24, as one of the main events leading up to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Every year since 1938, the concrete canyons of downtown Houston are transformed into a down-home celebration of Western heritage. Thousands of trail riders on horseback and in covered wagons, along with floats and marching bands will wind through the streets along the parade route.
Buc-ee’s founder and CEO, Arch “Beaver” Aplin III, was be this year's grand marshal.
The weather will be beautiful when the parade gets rolling at 10 a.m. Saturday! It might be a tad chilly in the morning though so layer up.
Parade viewing tips: What to know before you go
Tens of thousands of people will line the parade route so get there early to get the best spot.
Downtown streets close early Saturday morning so leave plenty of time to get around.
Best places to watch the Rodeo parade
- Louisiana, from Bell to Lamar
- Lamar
- Louisiana to Smith
Where to park for the Rodeo parade
- Alley Theater Garage
- One Market Square garage
- Lyric Center
- 1100 Smith Garage
- Theater District Parking
- Street parking: Texas and Smith, Smith and Preston, Smith and Dallas, Smith and Clay, Walker and Main.
Rodeo Parade Route
The Downtown Rodeo Parade route begins at Bagby and Walker near City Hall. Then it heads east on Walker before heading south on Travis Street.
Then the route goes west on Bell Street before heading north on Louisiana Street.
The parade route ends at Lamar and Bagby.
Street closures for Downtown Rodeo Parade
Streets will be closed Saturday morning, Feb. 25, of the parade and Rodeo Run, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Streets will open after the events finish around 2 p.m.
From 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24:
- W Memorial Loop Drive from Memorial Drive to traffic circle, private access with parking pass only.
From 7 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24:
- Buffalo Bayou parking lot entrances on Allen Parkway (BUF01-BUF10)
Friday, Feb. 23, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- North and south curb lanes of 400-500 Walker St. between Bagby and Smith
- North curb lane of 400-500 McKinney St. between Bagby and Smith
Friday, Feb. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
- North and south curb lanes of 200-500 Walker St. between I-45 overpass and Smith Street
- North curb lane of outbound Allen Parkway between Crosby and Gillette streets
From 9 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 23 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24:
- North curb lane of 400 McKinney St. between Bagby and Smith streets
- East curb lane of 800 Smith St. between Rusk and Walker streets
From noon on Friday, Feb. 23 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24:
- East and west curb lanes of Sabine Street between Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway
- East curb lane of Gillette Street between W Dallas and Allen Parkway
- Crosby between W Dallas and Allen Parkway
- Heiner St between W Dallas and Allen Parkway
From 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23 to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24:
- SIDEWALKS: north side of Bell St between Milam St & Louisiana St, east side of Louisiana St between Bell St & Clay St, west side of Bagby St between Walker St & McKinney St.
- MBP: City Hall Annex Surface Lot
Saturday, Feb. 24 from 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- McKinney exit ramp from the North Freeway (I-45)
- Allen Parkway north and southbound exit ramps from the Gulf and North Freeways (I-45)
Saturday, Feb. 24 from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
- At 3 a.m.: Two lanes of inbound Memorial Drive between South Picnic Lane and Shepherd Drive, full closure of inbound Memorial Drive between Shepherd Drive and Bagby Street
- North curb lane of Polk Street between W Dallas and Smith streets, south curb lane of Clay Street between W Dallas and Smith streets, east and west curb lanes of Robin/Shaw Street between Clay and Ruthven streets, east and west curb lanes of Howe Street between Andrews and Pease streets, east curb lane of Gulf Freeway feeder road between W Dallas and Andrews streets, north and south curb lanes of Andrews Street between Gulf Freeway feeder road and Smith Street, north and south curb lanes of Ruthven Street between Robin/Shaw and Smith streets.
- Wheelchair Division begins at 9:10 a.m. and the 10K begins at 9:20 a.m. on 400-800 Walker Street at Bagby Street going east, south on 900-1400 Travis Street, west on 700-800 Bell Street, north on 1100-1400 Louisiana Street, west on 400-600 Lamar Street, south on Bagby Street, west on inbound Allen Parkway, exit ramp onto Montrose Boulveard (leaving access to ALMI Apartments at all times), south on Montrose Boulevard (northbound lanes), U-turn at median break north of W Dallas Street, north on Montrose Boulevard (southbound lanes), exit ramp onto inbound Allen Parkway (access for apartment residents at all times), U-turn at median break east of Shepherd Drive, east on outbound Allen Parkway (access to The Dunlavy at all times), exit ramp onto Montrose Boulevard, north on Montrose Boulevard (southbound lanes), U-turn at Memorial Court/Memorial Crest Boulevard median break, south on Montrose Boulevard (northbound lanes), exit ramp onto outbound Allen Parkway, concluding at Eleanor Tinsley Park.
- 5K begins at 9:45 a.m. on Walker at Bagby street going east, south on Travis Street, west on Bell Street, north on Louisiana Street, west on Lamar Street, south on Bagby Street, west on inbound Allen Parkway, U-turn at median break east of Montrose Boulevard, east on outbound Allen Parkway, concluding at Eleanor Tinsley Park.
- Parade staging on Bagby Street between Lamar and Rusk Street, Walker Street between Bagby Street and Sabine Street Bridge, Sabine Street Bridge between outbound Allen Parkway and feeder road of inbound Memorial Drive, feeder road of inbound Memorial Drive between Taylor Street and Sabine Street Bridge. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on Walker Street at Bagby Street going east, south on Travis Street, west on Bell Street, north on Louisiana Street, west on Lamar Street, and concluding on Lamar at Bagby streets. Disbanding on inbound Allen Parkway and inbound Memorial Drive.
Rodeo Parade Parking
Public parking garages in the downtown Houston area and the Theater District are available to parade viewers. Please prepare to pay a parking fee. Prices will vary.
Directions to Theater District Parking
From I-45 North
- Exit I-10 east to Milam, right on Capitol to Theater District Parking (TDP)
- Exit Dallas, left on Dallas to parking
From I-45 South
- Exit Scott/Downtown to St. Joseph or Pease, right on northbound streets, left on Capitol to TDP
- Exit at Houston/Memorial, right on Memorial/Rusk to TDP
From I-10 West
- Exit Milam, right on Capitol to TDP
- Take I-45 South, exit Dallas, left on Dallas to parking
From Highway 59 North
- Exit Jackson, right on Congress, left on Milam, right on Capitol to TDP
- Exit I-10 west to I-45 south, exit Dallas, left on Dallas to parking
From Highway 59 South
- Exit Spur 527 to Louisiana, left on Capitol to TDP
From Highway 288
- Exit Polk, left on Polk, right on Louisiana, left on Capitol to TDP
Directions to Walker and Main Street Garage Parking
From Highway 59
- Exit Capitol Street to Main. Left on Main and right on Walker Street.
From I-10 West
- Accessible from I-10 and I-45 via Smith Street to Rusk, left on Rusk, right on Main, and right on Walker Street.
From I-45 South
- From I-45 South of downtown, take Travis Street to Walker Street. The entrance on Travis just past Walker Street.