View a photo slideshow of the River City Rodeo parade.
The sun was shining Saturday and the crisp fall air was perfumed by the sweet smell of kettle corn for the River City Rodeo Heritage Parade.
Dance teams stomped, tapped and twirled down Capitol Avenue beginning at 16th Street, and inflatable floats weaved around streetlights to the CenturyLink Center Omaha on 10th Street.
Candy was tossed and snatched by sugar-hungry children while horses of all colors and sizes carried present-day cowboys and cowgirls waving past.
Spectators stood and applauded when veterans rolled past, waving the American flag and playing patriotic tunes such as “God Bless the U.S.A.”
When asked if his favorite part was the horses or the dancers, 10-year-old Noah McGovern turned to his parents: “Can I say the candy throwing is my favorite?”
Noah, his siblings and friend had amassed a Halloween-worthy pile of goodies just halfway through the parade.
His mother, Jamie McGovern, said the family attends the parade each year, when the weather is nice. “We’re fair weather paradegoers,” she explained.
And then they usually head over to check out the animals at the livestock show at the CenturyLink Center.
She said it was “perfect parade weather” this year.
Most families and spectators were attired in red Husker gear, but there were a few — such as Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle — dressed in the Western theme of the parade.
Tony and Sharon Gedroez had a little of both. He wore a red NU jacket, and she had a pink bandanna around her neck.
The couple, who are in their 60s, enjoy supporting Omaha events and businesses and love seeing the excited kids.
“I just love parades,” Sharon Gedroez said.
The celebration used to be called River City Roundup, and the major attractions under that name continue at CenturyLink Center, including the Douglas County Fair and the AgVentureland Farm, where children can experiment with farming.
The Ak-Sar-Ben River City Rodeo and Stock Show events begin again Sunday at 9 a.m. and continue to 4 p.m.
The fair and livestock show are free. For rodeo and concert prices, and additional festival information visit RiverCityRodeo.com.
Contact the writer:
402-444-3131, sam.womack@owh.com
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