Folsom cattle drive, parade and rodeo return this week. Here’s the schedule
Folsom is bringing an old tradition back this week as cattle and longhorns march through the historic district.
The hometown parade is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Folsom Historic District. The free event will begin at Coloma and Sutter streets and travel along Sutter Street to Reading Street.
There will be about 80 entries in the parade, according to Folsom Historic District Executive Director Judy Collinsworth, including the Folsom High School Marching Band and the Ophir Prison Marching Band, a satirical group.
“We have a ‘Star Wars’ troupe in the parade,” Collinsworth said. “We have the legends of the rodeo.”
Bill Anderson will serve as the parade’s grand marshal, Collinsworth said. He is known as a railroad historian. Wednesday is also his birthday.
The cattle drive is expected to follow at roughly 8 p.m. It will last about 15 minutes, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting. The longhorns are from Flying U Rodeo, and the cattle are provided by rancher Reno Rosser.
Folsom has not hosted a cattle drive in more than 20 years. Collinsworth previously said the event was traditionally held during the day, when summer temperatures in the Sacramento region can be extreme. It has been scheduled for later in the evening this year to avoid the heat.
The cattle drive’s return will be limited to this year to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, Folsom’s 80th anniversary and the rodeo’s 65th anniversary.
Those attending can get a free Sacramento Regional Transit light rail ride Wednesday by showing a picture of the event’s poster, which can be found on the historic district’s website.
“It’s free to come on the light rail that day, just set up your chair and go stroll the district and find a great spot to eat,” Collinsworth said.
Wednesday’s festivities kick off the Folsom Pro Rodeo that runs Thursday through Saturday. Tickets are available at folsomprorodeo.com.
