DENVER — The 2024 National Western Stock Show Kick-Off Parade was held Thursday to celebrate the launch of the 118th annual National Western Stock Show in Denver.
The parade started at noon outside of Denver's Union Station and marched 12 blocks down 17th Street to Glenarm Place.
Denver Broncos legend Randy Gradishar served as Grand Marshal for the parade.
Gradishar played for the Broncos from 1974 to 1983, leading the 1977 "Orange Crush" defense to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance and becoming the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978. Gradishar is a senior finalist nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
> Watch a replay of the Stock Show parade in the video player below:
"I'm incredibly proud to serve as this year's Stock Show parade Grand Marshal and hope to encourage our youth to be their best, develop strong core values and embody a dedicated work ethic," Gradishar said. "The National Western Stock Show mission is phenomenal, investing in tomorrow's standout leaders!"
Parade-goers, downtown businesses, and passersby are invited to stop by the Stock Show Fair at McGregor Square following the parade, where attendees may enjoy McNicholas Miniatures therapy horses, western royalty, ice skating and a food market.
The 118th annual National Western Stock Show opens Saturday, Jan. 6, and continues through Sunday, Jan. 21, at the National Western Complex and Denver Coliseum at Interstate 70 and Brighton Boulevard.
A tradition since 1906, the part-rodeo, part-livestock show and part-fair brings hundreds of thousands of people to Colorado each January for a celebration of our state’s agricultural heritage.
The 2024 National Western Stock Show will host 29 rodeo performances, including Colorado vs. the World rodeos, Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, PBR Bull Riding, and MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo. There is also a full schedule of horse shows, starting with the RAM Freestyle Reining show and family events, including the Xtreme Dog shows and Wild West shows.
The National Western has one of the world’s richest regular-season professional rodeos, one of the country’s largest horse shows and Colorado’s largest agricultural trade show. The Stock Show welcomes attendees from 48 states and 32 countries and will drive an estimated $120 million in economic impact to the Denver area, organizers said.
Hosting over 25 breeds of cattle, bison, yaks, and longhorns, the Cille and Ron Williams Yards and the HW Hutchison Family Stockyards Event Center are the epicenter for the 2024 Super Bowl of livestock shows.
Tickets to the National Western Stock Show and a full schedule of events can be found at NationalWestern.com.
9NEWS is a corporate partner of the National Western Stock Show
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