National Western Stock Show

Denver has worked pretty hard to shed its “cow town” image, but there’s one Old West tradition that endures: the National Western Stock Show. The show starts when a few dozen longhorn cattle are driven up 17th Street, accompanied by cowpokes, marching bands, tractors and floats, often in below-freezing temps and during snowstorms. The 16-day extravaganza that follows is full of rodeos, fairs, art shows, dog shows, live music and food — pulling triple-duty as a tourist attraction, an actual stock show, and an educational window into ranching and ag traditions of the West.