Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo announces modified route for Saturday’s All Western Parade

The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo announced Wednesday afternoon that the annual All Western Parade will go on at 11 a.m. Saturday as planned. However, the parade will follow a modified route because of street closures in downtown Fort Worth resulting from Monday’s explosion at the Sandman Signature Hotel.

Officials are still investigating the cause of the explosion at 810 S. Houston St. that injured 21 people.

The parade will begin as usual at Main and Weatherford streets, south of the Tarrant County Courthouse, the stock show announcement said. It will proceed south on Main to the Fort Worth Convention Center, turn left at 9th Street, left on Commerce Street, and then north to Weatherford Street. Reserved seating will remain at Sundance Square and the convention center.

Find a map for the parade route here.

Fort Worth Stock Show communications director Matt Brockman said in a statement Tuesday that stock show officials hoped to move ahead with the parade despite the explosion.

“Our hope is that the parade will occur as planned while recognizing the importance of the ongoing investigation of the incident and the need to ensure the safety of parade spectators and participants,” he said.

This year’s stock show is scheduled to run from Friday through Feb. 3 at the Will Rogers Memorial Center and Dickies Arena.

On Saturday, thousands are expected to line the streets of downtown Fort Worth for the opening weekend parade.

The stock show is a Fort Worth institution, with a history that stretches all the way back to 1896. It draws more than a million visitors annually these days, and features rodeo performances and exhibitors with animals such as cattle, horses, rabbits and sheep. Multiple live concerts are scheduled, plus carnival and midway fun, several areas for shopping, and kid-friendly attractions such as a barnyard and petting zoo.

The parade began in 1896, as well — Comanche chief Quanah Parker took part in 1909 — and often features herd drovers, stagecoaches, equestrian troupes and more.