La Parada Del Sol:
Parada del Sol, Scottsdale, Arizona is a month-long celebration culminating in a magnificent parade and five action-packed professional rodeo performances. The Parada del Sol is a team effort of Jaycees and local volunteers who donate thousands of hours, hard work and personal resources to bring the West’s Most Western Town alive in February & March each year.
Parada Events - Hashknife Pony Express Mail Delivery :
At high Noon, the Hashknife Pony Express will complete their 200-mile trek from Holbrook, AZ to the Main Post Office in downtown Scottsdale to deliver the mail and kick-off the month-long celebration of the Parada del Sol. This exciting reenactment is one of the nation’s oldest officially sanctioned events. Each rider is sworn in as an honorary mail messenger braving weather, terrain and modern-day obstacles to deliver the U.S. mail.
Annual Parada del Sol Parade:
The World’s Largest Horse Drawn Parade will head north on Scottsdale Road from Oak Street to Indian School at 10 am. Presented by The Tribune and the City of Scottsdale, this historical event includes nearly 1,000 horses, western pageantry, clowns, dancing troupes, marching bands, civic groups. Free family fun for kids of all ages!
Parada del Sol Trails End Celebration:
Immediately following the Parade, the Scottsdale Jaycees keep the party going with the annual Trail's End celebration. Enjoy live music, shopping, great food, cold ale, a Kids Zone and much more! The block party takes over Old Town Scottsdale on First Avenue and Main St, between Brown Rd and Scottsdale Road. Admission is free and the fun lasts till 5 pm! Bring the whole family and spend the day in Old Town Scottsdale!
Parada del Sol PRCA Rodeo - Westworld of Scottsdale:
Each of the five PRCA sanctioned rodeo performances feature bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling and of course, everyone’s favorite – the bulls!
Parada del Sol Rodeo Dance and Concert:
The Parada del Sol would not be complete without a little “boot scootin’ boogie!” Join the Jaycees & KMLE Country 108 at Handlebar-J, Shea Blvd & Scottsdale Rd. And, then after the evening’s rodeo performance on Saturday head on over to WestWorld’s east arena for the Parada del Sol Rodeo Concert.
Schedule and Ticket Information:
Parada del Sol website.
History:
The Parada del Sol had its beginning in 1954 when the newly organized Scottsdale Jaycees assumed production of the three year old Sunshine Festival. The City of Scottsdale sponsored the festival shortly after the City incorporated. The first Sunshine Festival consisted of a brief parade through downtown Scottsdale and ended in a family barbecue. The first rodeo was added to the Sunshine Festival in 1956, and the name of the festival was changed to the "Parada del Sol". Translated from Spanish, it means, "walk in the sun."
