City: Denver, CO

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (303) 297-1166

Address: 4655 Humboldt St. (Brighton Boulevard ex

Description: Founded in 1906, the National Western is the largest annual event in Denver—and it’s growing. You’ll be in the company of more than 600,000 people, but the event is spaced over 2 weeks in mid-­January, so there’s plenty of room and time to take in all the horses, sheep, cattle, chickens, and rabbits being exhibited by ranchers from miles around. Rodeo events go on every day, with the nation’s top horse and bull riders, calf ropers, you name it, competing for nearly $500,000 in prizes. Between the big events, you can see all kinds of oddball fun: rodeo clowns, Western battle recreations (cover the kids’ ears if loud noises scare them), and a sheepdog herding sheep with a monkey in a cowboy suit riding on its back. Tickets to the Professional Bull Riders are the most expensive. The National Western begins with a colorful parade through downtown Denver. Also check out what Denver calls the World’s Largest Display of Christmas Lights at the City and County Building downtown. The lights are on from the first Thursday in December until January 1, but they’re turned on at night during the stock show as well.