Photos: La Fiesta de los Vaqueros parade preparation
La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts along South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Joel Vargas, left, and Noe Matos staple paper flowers to the General Dentistry for Kids rodeo parade float at Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Rodeo parade float at Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Madyson Edwards, right, Valeria Arnold, left back, and Irlanda Cuevas, right back decorate the Hughes Federal Credit Union rodeo parade float, Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
People decorate their floats ahead of the rodeo parade, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Samuel Munyaga uses zip-ties to decorate the Tucson Indian Center rodeo parade float at Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
People decorate their floats ahead of the rodeo parade, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Miranda Norton decorates wheels on the Casino del Sol rodeo parade float at Tucson Rodeo Grounds, 4823 South Sixth Avenue, Feb. 24, 2026. La Fiesta de los Vaqueros rodeo parade starts at South 12th Avenue and Drexel Road at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The non-motorized parade features local and national dignitaries, Native American royalty and performers, historical wagons and colorful floats, marching bands and mariachis, rodeo royalty and working cowboys.
Grace Trejo
Photojournalist
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