Rodeo Parade

Here are the rest of the pics of the annual rodeo parade we attended down in Cottonwood Falls last weekend. Every year they have a parade to celebrate the rodeo, and it’s the only parade I know of that starts in one town, Cottonwood Falls, and then goes on out of town, down the road a couple miles, and then goes through a second town, Strong City.

Hey, there aren’t many parades here in the flyover zone, so when we have one, we get bang for buck: 2 towns share one parade. There aren’t many floats in this parade, or marching bands either. But there are plenty of horses, after all, this is ranch country, and people here seem to learn how to ride before they can walk.

The parade was supposed to start at 2pm, but it was late, and got started at 2:30pm instead. No one seemed to mind though. Anyway, here’s the beginning at last-

Everybody stand up and take your hats off- Here’s the color guard:

Here’s the marching band (the only one). Thanks National Guard.

Ah, the Shriners. What parade would be complete without full-grown men riding around on undersized motorcycles?

Draft horses. Remember, this is a horsey parade, so you’re gonna see lots of them. Watch where you step.

This one confused me at first. Why are all those cowgirls wearing bridal gowns?  I don’t get out and go to movies very often.

Fox hunting? Seriously, in Kansas? Well, YES, apparently. Not sure where in Kansas, but we do have fox hunters..

Good luck with that by the way. I’ve lived here for over 4 years and I’ve only seen ONE fox.

Antique truck…older vehicles are always a favorite.

Ditto.

Aww…cute.

More horses.

Ditto.

Hope you girls put plenty of sunscreen on.

Ride that wild bull, girls!

Nice antique truck.

Polo? Seriously? Well, apparently so. Not sure where from, but Kansas does have a polo team.

You can’t be more surprised than I am, kid.

Even the horse looks surprised.

(There’s a stock tank full of water in back of the truck.) Out in the country stock tanks are sometimes used as swimming pools.

Nice hat.

Ditto.

Nice horse and carriage.

Hey, you’re going the wrong way, the parade is over here!

Oh well. They saw someone they wanted to visit with for a bit.

Aww….cute.

Nice antique tractor.

Antique car –

HEY, WAIT A MINUTE!  That looks like the car I learned to drive in!

And if it’s an antique, that makes me old too, and that can’t be.

They must be lost. Took a wrong turn or something. They don’t belong in this parade.

I’m sure that’s a soft drink in that can.

It is, isn’t it, guys?

Guys?

I like how this cowboy’s shirt matches his horse’s bridle.

Cute girl. Not so cute horse.

And the last parade entry, a cowboy riding a Spanish breed horse of some sort.

And that’s all.

We always enjoy this parade. It’s fun to watch, and the participants seem to be having fun too, especially the cowboys and cowgirls.

(Watch your step on your way back to your car.)

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo