We are ready to kick off the Annual Western Heritage Classic, a historic event since 1985! The parade will feature horse drawn wagons, riding clubs, buggies, antique cars and tractors, country and western bands, and floats.
ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE A WESTERN THEME.
We have appreciated your participation in the past and look forward to receiving your entry for this year. The parade will be on Thursday night May 7, at 6:30 PM. We will be back to the old parade route, up Pine St and back down Cypress St, where there will be live bands along the way to add some western swing.
To better organize and prepare for the parade, we need your entry returned by April 24, 2026. The evening of the parade, please make plans to arrive at the appropriate staging area no later than 5:30 PM. This will help us to get the parade started on time. All parade numbers as well as ground passes will be given to you when you check in at your staging area. The ground passes will enable you to attend all the daily functions of the Western Heritage Classic during the day.
We are asking the parade participants to get into the Western Heritage Classic spirit by adding western music and “Hoop and Hollering” along the parade route. The entries will be judged along the route and (2) $100.00 prizes will be awarded to the most spirited entries.
(CHAIRMAN OR COORDINATORS OF RIDING CLUBS
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR MEMBERS)
All equine units must have a current negative EIA (Coggins) within the last 12 months in order to enter the parade. Papers should include name, number, date of test, and name of laboratory. Each participant is required to present the above-mentioned documents on demand. Any participant not in compliance with these regulations of the Texas Animal Health Commission will be asked to leave the staging area. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter, as this is a state law not ours.
We certainly appreciate your participation in the past years and hope that you will make every effort to help us kick off the 2026 Western Heritage Classic May 8th - 9th.
WESTERN HERITAGE CLASSIC
2026 PARADE RULES
ALL ENTRIES IN THE PARADE ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE PARADE ROUTE AS PLANNED. LISTEN TO THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY THE PARADE MARSHALS. ANY DEVIATION BY ANY UNIT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CITY TRAFFIC. THEY HAVE BEEN MOST GENEROUS IN PROVIDING PERSONNEL TO HELP MOVE THE VARIOUS UNITS THROUGH MAJOR INTERSECTIONS AND WE MUST BE RESPONSIVE ON OUR PART. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!! PLEASE NOTE AND OBSERVE
NO DOUBLE RIDING OF ANY KIND. DO NOT STAND ON YOUR HORSE!
GREEN BROKE OR UNMANAGABLE HORSES SHOULD NOT
BE ENTERED IN THE PARADE.
NO MOTORCYCLES MAY BE ENTERED IN THE PARADE.
NO ITEMS INCLUDING CANDY, GUM, BUTTONS, T-SHIRTS, IDENTIFICATION CARDS, ETC. ARE TO BE TOSSED, THROWN, OR HANDED OUT DURING THE PARADE BY ANY PARADE PARTICIPANT OR FROM ANY MOVING VEHICLE. THIS RULE IS IN EFFECT TO PREVENT SMALL CHILDREN FROM DARTING OUT IN FRONT OF ANY PARADE UNIT. PARADE OFFICIALS AND POLICE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ENFORCE THIS REGULATION.
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY. IT CAN’T BE STRESSED ENOUGH.
ONCE ANY UNIT HAS ENTERED THE PARADE NO INDIVIDUAL IN OR ON THAT UNIT IS TO DISMOUNT OR RE-ENTER SAME.
IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS PLEASE MOVE TO THE SIDE
AND LET THE NEXT ENTRY BY.
YOU MUST COMPLETE PARADE ROUTE
TO RECEIVE YOUR PRIZE
PARADE ROUTE: WE ARE BACK TO THE OLD PARADE ROUTE! YAY!!!!! The parade will proceed under the underpass north on Pine Street. At North 6th, turn left and turn left again on to Cypress St. At North 1st turn left and at Pine St. turn right back under the underpass. Try to maintain a 30-foot space between units. Disband in the 200 & 300 block of Chestnut & disperse to the South or West.
2026 PARADE INFORMATION
DIVISIONS
Riding Clubs
- Local (30-mile radius)
- Out of Town
Wagons & Buggies Chuckwagons
- Buggies & Carts
- Rubber Tire Wagons
- All Other Wagons
Floats
Antique Vehicle (Pre 1950)
Antique Tractors
Awards will be presented in the amounts of:
First - $100 Second - $75 Third - $50
(All checks will be mailed to winner!)
“Two $100.00 prizes will be awarded to entries with the best music and Western Spirit!”
Most parade officials will be on golf carts & will be wearing red bandanas and blue denim.
You must be in line by 6:00 PM if you want to be judged.
PARKING - Please do not park in staging areas. With the SODA District becoming busier, please be mindful of signs on where you can park. Would not want anyone to get towed.
FLOATS & BANDS – Please enter S. 3rd West bound from Treadaway. Check in at 3rd & Cherry.
BUGGY & WAGONS – Please enter S. 4th West bound from Treadaway. Try to park your trailers to unload on South 4th East of Locust. Once you are loaded, you will be lined up on South 4th. Check in at 4th and Locust - West bound.
RIDING CLUBS, RANCH RODEO TEAMS – Please enter S. 5th West bound from Treadaway. Please unload your animals etc. on the streets East of Locust on S. 5th. You will be lined up on 5th facing Oak Street to enter the parade.
ANTIQUE VEHICLES – Report to check in point on South side of Taylor County Plaza – S. 5th & Chestnut to enter the parade.
ANTIQUE TRACTORS – unload at S. 6th and Oak. Then proceed to S. 5th and Oak for judging and to enter the parade.
The parade actually ends at S. 4th & Chestnut Southbound. Please continue Southbound on Chestnut to S. 6th before turning East so you will not interfere with parade staging.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK ANY DRIVEWAYS OR
OTHER VEHICLES & REMEMBER TO LOCK YOUR VEHICLES