We’ve made it into the new year, moving swiftly into the future. But, for more than two weeks, some people will ride backward in time, celebrating the traditions of cowboys and cowgirls of the past.

On Jan. 11, the National Western Stock Show — a Colorado tradition since 1906 — will begin 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 future.

The festival, spanning the massive complex in northeast Denver, will feature various vendors, rodeo shows, livestock auctions, competitions and Western eats — a mainstay of the region for 119 years.

“I’m looking forward to the newness of the Stock Show, but also the same traditions that we celebrate,” Paul Andrews, president and CEO of the National Western Stock Show told The Denver Gazette. “The hat makers that have been here for decades that people are looking forward to seeing again every time they come to the show.”

In 2024, the festival brought 671,467 visitors to Denver and sold $1,374,000 worth of livestock during the Junior Livestock Champions auction — the second-highest sale total in show history.

“The National Western Stock Show is a crown jewel for Denver and the entire state for many reasons – from education to the economy. In 2023 alone, the Stock Show generated $171 million impact on our economy. With the construction of new facilities at the site, we expect those numbers to grow,” said Kelly Caufield, executive director of Commons Sense Institute, a nonpartisan research organization dedicated to the protection and promotion of Colorado’s economy, said in a news release.

The 2006 100th anniversary show still holds the attendance record with 726,972 visitors, but Andrews said the new show is on-pace to wrangle that record.

“Our ticket sales today are farther ahead than any year in the history of the National Western Stock Show,” he said Dec. 31. “We are trending at higher levels than we’ve ever trended, and we are still weeks away from the show starting.”

What’s new?

With a history spanning 119 years and a focal point on the celebration of the West, the Stock Show is steeped in tradition — but that doesn’t mean new events can’t pop up.

2025 will mark the last Stock Show before part of the new National Western Center will be completed.

The center takes up 2.2 million square feet of new indoor and outdoor spaces being built by the city and county of Denver in partnership with the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University. The Live Stock Center part is expected to be finished toward the end of 2025, right in time for the show’s 120th anniversary.

But, the construction won’t halt the Stock Show juggernaut. All the fan-favorite events, like the PBR Rodeo Finals, mutton bustin’ — kids hanging on to running sheep for a long as they can, the Wild West Show, Westernaires Trick & Fancy Ropers and the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza, the latter of which Andrews said has higher ticket sales than ever before.

New additions this year will include a revamped menu for the bar and grill, featuring a 48-hour braised short rib, baby Scottish Highland Cattle featured in the Expo Hall for pictures and a baby Clydesdale at the Denver Coliseum.

There will also be over a dozen new retailers, adding to the 300-or-so already at the event.

“My word of advice to people reading your article: buy your tickets now,” Andrews said.

Transportation and parking

Parking at the National Western Stock Show is limited in the lots next to the complex and even more so over the past few years because of the under-construction livestock center.

While patrons can park at the show, it fills up fast. The National Western Stock Show does include a free shuttle at the Coors Field lot, accessed off of Park Avenue and Wazee Street.

The lot opens every day at 8 a.m. and the shuttle runs every 20 minutes. They run until an hour after the last rodeo gets out every night.

The parade

Every year of the Stock Show starts with a parade of horses, cowboys and cowgirls, cattle and marching bands from Union Station to Glenarm Place down 17th Street. This year’s will occur at noon Jan. 9.

Due to the parade trampling down the city streets, the Regional Transportation District (RTD) will pause light rail service for the D, H and L lines in downtown Denver at 11 a.m. on Jan. 9.

The L line will be paused entirely during the parade until 2 p.m. The D and H lines will end at the Theatre District-Convention Center Station until the parade is over.

Bus lines 0, 1, 6, 8, 9, 10, 15, 15L, 19, 20, 28, 38, 43, 44, 48 and 52 will also see detours around the area during the parade.

Safety and security

Following a week of tragic incidents scattered across the nation — like the New Year’s Eve attack on Bourbon Street in New Orleans — security and police presence at large-scale events remains a focus for both police and attendees across the country.

The Denver Police Department, who polices the Stock Show, said they will continue to act vigilantly when working at the grounds.

“The Denver Police Department is aware of the tragedy that occurred in New Orleans and remains vigilant to keeping anyone who lives, works or plays in Denver safe,” The department said in a statement to The Denver Gazette. “We will continue to work with our state, local and federal partners to identify any threats. We are always reassessing our safety plans to enhance safety and monitor for the development of any new best practices that we can implement.”

Those that witness any suspicious behavior are asked to call 720-913-2000 if it is not an emergency.

Andrews said that, following policies established 10 years ago, there 30 police officers on site at all times.  There are also barricades and closed gates that keep anyone driving close to the facility.  In addition, the Denver SWAT team is often in the parking lots as an extra precaution.  

Tickets and more information can be found at NationalWestern.com.