• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
    • Year-round
      • Brewery Tours
      • Casinos & Gaming
      • Colorado Brands
      • Federal Lands
      • Food & Dining
      • Ghost Towns
      • Gondola & Chairlifts
      • Hot Springs
      • Mine Tours
      • Museums
      • Paintball
      • Public Parks
      • Scenic Drives
      • Shopping
      • Sports Teams
      • State Parks
      • Train Rides
      • Transportation
      • Wildlife
      • Zip Lines & Aerial Parks
    • Spring, Summer & Fall
      • Amusement Parks
      • ATV Rentals
      • Biking
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Drive-In Theaters
      • Fishing
      • Golf Courses
      • Hiking
      • Horseback Riding
      • Rock Climbing
      • Tubing & Paddling
      • Waterfalls
      • Whitewater Rafting
    • Winter
      • Cross Country Skiing
      • Dog Sledding
      • Ice Climbing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Ice Skating
      • Skiing & Snowboarding
      • Sleigh Rides
      • Snow Tubing
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Events
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
  • Lodging
    • Budget Hotels
    • Historic Hotels
    • Luxury Hotels
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • Cabins & Glamping
    • Casinos with Lodging
    • Dude Ranches
    • Hot Spring with Lodging
    • Wineries with Lodging
    • Campgrounds
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Lodging
  • Towns
  • Trip Planner
National Western Stock Show
National Western Stock Show Parade.

National Western Stock Show – Denver | January

2
SHARES
FacebookTwitter

No city embodies the Spirit of the West better than Denver. That’s on full display each year in January, during the National Western Stock Show. This year’s fest is taking place from Saturday through Sunday, January 7th – 22nd, 2023. 

The National Western is the world’s largest stock show, with more than 20,000 animals on display, and it’s grown massively since the first year the event was held in 1906. The show started at the turn of the century as a way for Colorado ranchers to showcase their prized pigs and share new breeding and farming techniques with fellow ranchers. But the show quickly grew into one of the biggest fairs in the West.

National Western Events Center
National Western Events Center.
National Western Complex
National Western Complex.

Today, the Stock Show is larger than life, just like the Old West. During the month-long event, cowboys and cowgirls from across the West and beyond pour into Denver to compete in rodeos, equestrian events, stock shows, BBQ competitions, and more. The stock show lasts nearly the entire month of January and there are events each day of the week.

Denver Coliseum
Denver Coliseum.
National Western Stadium
National Western Stadium.

For instance, you can catch a rodeo or horse show featuring some of the best professional athletes from around the world on almost any day. But if rodeos aren’t your cup of cowboy tea, you’re bound to find something interesting in any one of the hundreds of vendor booths.

The great news: The majority of events are held right by Downtown Denver at the National Western Complex, as well as at the neighboring Denver Coliseum, and the cost of admission into the grounds won’t set you back too much either.

National Western Stock Show Roping Denver Colorado
Roping at National Western Stock Show. Photo by: Jay Bonvouloir

So what should you make sure to see this year? Here are a few don’t-miss events at the National Stock Show:

1. Kick-Off Parade

National Western Stock Show Parade
Kick-Off Parade. Photo by: clarkmaxwell

Each year, the National Western Stock Show gets started with a big bang parade that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen. There are marching bands, floats, and other standard parade fares, but it also pays homage to the past in a big way.

More than 100 Texas longhorns are driven through the streets of Downtown Denver, along the route from Union Station down 17th Street. It’s a blast from Denver’s cowtown past, and it’s a bit surreal to behold: a stampede of bulls clomping down the skyscraper-lined streets.

2. Mutton Bustin’

National Western Stock Show Mutton Bustin
Mutton Bustin.

Mutton Bustin’ is a fan favorite every year, and even better, it’s included with your admission price. But what is Mutton Bustin’ exactly? Basically, it’s like junior bull riding, but instead of bulls and bull riders, it’s 5-7 year-olds holding on for dear life on the backs of sheep. Hands down, it’s great entertainment for the whole family.

2. RAM Invitational Freestyle Reining

 

Outside of the horse world, Freestyle Reining isn’t a well-known event, but it’s massively entertaining. Essentially, the event is a choreographed routine, but the cowboys and cowgirls work music, costumes, and horseback riding tricks into their allotted time to woo the judges.

It’s like figure skating, but on horseback, and it’s entertaining even if you’ve never ridden a horse in your life.

4. PBR Bull Riding

National Western Stock Show Bull Riding
Bull rider. Photo by: Adam Lederer

Bull Riding is the quintessential rodeo event, and no one does it better than the riders on the PBR tour. There’s no greater thrill at the National Western than watching the best riders holding on for a long 8 seconds on the back of 2,000-pound bulls. It’s a fierce, edge-of-your-seat competition, and one of the best to see.

The 2023 National Western Stock Show really kicks off with the Free Parade for all in Downtown Denver, with events following thru the 22nd at the National Western Complex. Tickets are available online and at the gates. Some events require grandstand tickets, as well. Enjoy the show!

Denver Accommodations



Booking.com

Check out some of the best hotels in Denver.

Details

Address: National Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Denver, CO

Phone: 866-627-0083

Date: Saturday – Sunday | January 7-22, 2023

Cost: Free and Paid

Website: nationalwestern.com

 

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado Events

  • All Events
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Cheers! Mile High Happy Hour shares showcases Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Federal Lands
  • Ghost Towns
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Ski Resorts
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks
  • Train Rides

Copyright © 2023 · Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise