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Attendees react as a member of Bibber Creek Spurs JeffCo 4-H club pulls a wagon carrying chickens in passes by during the National Western Stock Show Kick-Off Parade Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, near Union Station. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
People were bundled up tight as they lined up for the annual National Western Stock Show parade Thursday afternoon — and they needed to be.
By the time the annual procession began its roll up 17th Street from Denver Union Station, delayed for an hour due to the weather, beloved entries, including the Westernaires trick riders and the longhorn cattle that usually lead the parade, had called in because the roads were too slick and the temperatures hovering just below freezing were just too low.
The Colorado Stars & Stripes Color Guard was quick to saddle up to lead the parade. And families brave enough to stick out the familiar January phenomenon known as Stock Show weather still got a good show.
Members of the Colorado Stars & Stripes Color Guard open the National Western Stock Show Kick-Off Parade Thursday near Union Station. The anticipated openers, 30 Searle Ranch Texas Longhorns, were unable to arrive in time for the event. “Due to weather and transportation challenges, the longhorns will unfortunately not be able to participate in this year’s parade,” posted the National Western Stock Show on Facebook. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Debbie Marshall, in a white cowboy hat, and her granddaughters Rowyn Cleveland, 3, and Reverie Cleveland, 5, wave to the Cowgirls Forever riders with their friend, Rebecca Bean, wearing a black cowboy hat. Marshall, who owns Rudolph Ranch, said the girls “each have a horse and they’re both learning to ride.” (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Reverie said her pinto horse, Dolly, “stopped by to say hi.” during the parade. Dolly was being ridden by her grandfather Roundup Riders of the Rockies member Corey Marshall, who broke away to say hello to his wife and granddaughters. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Denver Nuggets Super Mascot Rocky displays his lightning tail from the roof of a truck during the parade. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)Dancers from the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza perform during the National Western Stock Show parade. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)A roper with the Mexican Extravaganza performs tricks with a lasso. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Kane Antoncyzk, 2 1/2, shakes his hips to music played by the Grizzly Rose Truck & Band during the parade . “He’s a big dancer and he LOVES horses,” says mother Taylor Antoncyzk. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Mother Katie Welfare, left, smiles beside daughter Josephine, 1, and her sons Desmond, 3, and Calvin, 4, during the parade. Calvin said he is most excited to see pigs at the Stock Show this year. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Attendees wave from the second floor of a building during the parade. (Alyte Katilius, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Alyte Katilius is a freelance photojournalist working in Denver. She previously was a photographer and photo editor at the Wyoming Eagle Tribune in Cheyenne. Her work has appeared in publications in the U.S. and Lithuania, including People magazine,...
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