The Bandera RoundUp Longhorn and Cattle Drive Parade drew crowds to Main Street on Aug. 30, showcasing more than 40 entries that represented every corner of the community.
Annual participants such as local fire departments were joined by new businesses, including CryoX and Oasis Family Church.
The crowd kept Sonora Snowballs busy serving snow cones to beat the late-summer heat, as temperatures climbed into the mid-90s despite cloud cover.
The parade featured local royalty, with queens, princesses and teens riding along. Miss Rodeo Texas, Reanna Santos, also made an appearance.
One of the highlights was the longhorn herd, representing the cattle once driven from Bandera north along the Great Western Trail. The animals included two that carried Bandera beauties at the end of the parade.
The herd was escorted by police and followed their chuck wagon down Main Street, guided by at least a dozen riders.
Equestrian entries also drew attention. The Cowboy Capital Trail Riders, Bandera Pro Rodeo Association, Paul Garrison and his mules, and the CCC Equitherapy group all brought horses. CCC’s tiny ponies were showcased in a trailer with their handlers, a novel display that caught spectators’ eyes.
The courthouse lawn hosted a bustling Marketplace with more than two dozen tents and booths. Visitors browsed yard art, handmade goods and fair food while several groups of gunfighters in period costumes strolled the grounds.
Locals and tourists alike filled the sidewalks to watch the parade, with children scrambling to collect candy tossed from floats.
Another Labor Day celebration is in the books, but the RoundUp parade once again reflected Bandera’s hometown spirit and smalltown values.
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