San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo Parade Draws Quite the Crowd

The 84^th annual San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo parade kicked off this morning with the Fort Concho Youth Military marching down West Concho. It was a chilly morning, but onlookers bundled up in blankets and sipped hot coffee to stay warm. Despite the cold, crowds of people lined the roads waiting to enjoy a long-standing tradition that is part of the rodeo magic.

[[{"fid":"18125","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","title":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","height":"362","width":"640","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

The parade usually starts with the local bands marching and playing, but a few area bands are away at a UIL competition this weekend. Many people muttered how they missed these marching bands.

Vicki McNeal said she has been attending the parade with her husband and children for about 10 years, and part of being there included watching her daughter, Melanie, play in the different bands every year.

[[{"fid":"18126","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","title":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","height":"362","width":"640","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

“My favorite part of the parade is watching and hearing the bands and seeing how each player had progressed each year,” McNeal said. Though the bands were missing this year the parade was not a disappointment. In fact, the McNeals got to enjoy an array of beautiful horses, vintage cars and more.

Melanie McNeal, daughter of Vicki McNeal, was a band member in the Central Band, Lead band, and ASU Band for 10 years as an alto saxophone player. This was the first year Melanie got to sit and watch the parade.

[[{"fid":"18127","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","title":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","height":"362","width":"640","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

She said, "It was very nice to finally get to see the whole parade from the other point–of-view.”

As the parade marched by, the kids in the crowd waved and smiled as the marchers rode by. The reactions from the children in the audience warmed many hearts in the cold weather.

[[{"fid":"18128","view_mode":"default","type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","title":"Rodeo Parade (LIVE! Photo/John Basquez)","height":"362","width":"640","class":"media-element file-default"}}]]

The parade is just one of the many events and shows to follow in the up coming weeks. The San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo is something fun for the whole family, and many people are swarming the fairgrounds as we speak.