COMING SOON!! The Tucson Rodeo. Events run from Feb 21-28th with the famous Rodeo Parade on Feb 25th as an introduction to the professional rodeo which starts on the 25th through the 28th.
The Rodeo Parade is the longest non-mechanized parade in the world with over 200 entries traveling a distance of 1 1/2 miles. Rosemary, co-owner of Hacienda del Desierto Bed & Breakfast, actually rode her horse in the parade in 1954 wearing a traditional western fancy outfit with long leather fringes on arms and culottes, western boots, western hat, and carrying an empty rifle. She was just 14-years-old and wore long braids. Kids watching the parade thought she was Annie Oakley. What fun that was. She rode her horse from the Tucson foothills about 10 miles away down to where the parade started at that time–not anything one could do today.
You might also enjoy visiting the Rodeo Parade Museum which is housed in the first airport hanger in Tucson Circa 1918. There are 100 buggies and wagons, old west artifact, and a typical western street with shops of the period. The museum is open Mon-Fri during January and February.
Read all about the history of the rodeo, the parade, the Rodeo Museum at www.tucsonrodeo.com. There is also a printable schedule of events and ticket information on that site.
