Hooves stomped through the streets of downtown Denver Thursday, unfazed by the snow and ice scattered amidst the asphalt.

The 2025 National Western Stock Show has arrived.

On Saturday, the Colorado tradition since 1906 begins its 16-day run through Jan. 26 at the National Western Stock Show grounds at 4655 Humboldt St., marking another year of honoring Western traditions of the past and welcoming the future of the new complex grounds.

The 40-minute parade, which started just after 1 p.m. with bells ringing after an hour weather delay, marched from Union Station at 17th Street down 17th Street, then turned on Glenarm Place.

The cold, snow and ice, seemed to keep the crowds sparse — but participants didn’t seem to mind keeping the tradition alive and well. Employees from office buildings lining the parade route took their places just minutes before the parade marched by.

The parade included horse-drawn wagons and western riding groups. But the iconic Longhorn cattle drive was missing this year — likely to avoid any injuries to the steers on cold, slippery streets. There were more than 60 parade entries.

The 2025 Grand Marshal was Kathy Sabine, an avid equestrian and 9NEWS chief meteorologist.

Sierra Southerland, Miss Rodeo Colorado 2025, also lead the charge for local rodeo queens — all riding in a wagon instead of their usual horses due to the weather.

The parade marks Southerland’s first event as a this year’s Miss Rodeo Colorado, kicking off her 20-days of stock show-based appearances.

“I’m really giddy,” she said, standing in front of Union Station moments before the parade kicked off. “I have butterflies in my stomach and it still just doesn’t feel real yet.”

Southerland was basically born on a horse, she said, with her mother riding horses while she was nine-months pregnant. Southerland then grew up doing horse shows, eventually working her way into her current prestigious position.

To her, the role and western culture — like the yearly stock show — are everything.

“My want went from wanting to wear the tiara to wanting to be an ambassador and role model,” she said.

Like the Stock Show, Southerland works to spread information about animal welfare and rights and agricultural sustainability.

And to others in attendance, that tradition and celebration of all things Colorado agriculture was worth braving the cold.

“This is cowboy weather right here,” Matt Burkard, a Colorado native who grew up going to the Stock Show but had never been to the parade, joked. “Our grandparents were driving cattle in colder weather than this.”

“This is Stock Show weather,” said Kelly Miller, a Colorado native who said he was looking forward to watching steers march through downtown Denver.

“Our agricultural history is a huge part of the state,” he said. “Seeing longhorns in town is the tradition to honor that.”

Though that didn’t happen, there were plenty of horses, wagons, Rocky the Denver Nuggets mascot, Miles the Denver Broncos mascot, rodeo clowns, tractors, a taste of the Mexican Rodeo with colorful dancers and charros and dignitaries like Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, National Western CEO Paul Andrews (his last parade as CEO, as he’s retiring) and J.J. Ament, president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Mary Rose-Masters, who said she has attended the parade most years, said “this really highlights Colorado history,” citing the Mexican Rodeo as her favorite tradition.

Jill and Tyler Moore, a couple from Denver who go to the Stock Show every year, were seeing their first parade, with Tyler donning a cowboy hat.

“I’ve never made it to the parade. Why? Well, I’m retired now,” Tyler joked.

But Jill noted Tyler loves the Stock Show, saying he’s, “all hat, no cattle.”

“It’s a great tradition. It’s Denver reaching out to the rest of the world. You can see how important agriculture business is to the state,” Tyler said.

The love for western tradition truly does reach out from Denver, making its way to all parts of the country. The Stock Show usually pulls participants from most of the lower 48 states.

For example, Kama Way — a woman from Rochester wearing a Buffalo Bills NFL hat — braved being in enemy Broncos territory a week before the Broncos play the Bills in the playoffs to see the parade for the first time. She even dragged out her sister who lives in Denver, but has never witnessed the stomping down 17th Street.

“I’m so excited to see the parade. I’m wearing my Bills stuff like, ‘I hope I don’t get beat up’,” she laughed, mentioning how welcoming Denverites have been during her trip.

Former Stock Show horseback and Westernaires rider Jill Miller, said it was a significant moment for her to attend with her parents, husband and her young son, Kieran.

“It’s important for me to show my son,” Jill Miller said, while Kieran looked down 17th Street, waiting for the parade to start.

“We are Denver natives, so this is our tradition,” she said.

Now that the horses have settled and the wagons have screeched to halts, and the street cleaners have swept away the manure, the 16-days of the National Western Stock Show will kickoff for its 119th year. For more information, schedules and tickets visit nationalwestern.com.