Scottsdale Gears Up for Parada del Sol Parade, Rodeo

The Parada del Sol parade and rodeo return to Scottsdale next month for their 63rd year, and events leading up to the big celebration will begin later this month.

Things kick off with the January 27-29 Hashknife Pony Express Ride, in which horseback riders carry 20,000 pieces of mail 200 miles from Holbrook to Scottsdale. Scottsdale's Museum of the West is hosting a meet-and-greet event January 29 to welcome the riders. For more information on that event, click here.

The parade takes place Saturday, February 13. This year, it begins near Scottsdale Road and Drinkwater Boulevard, then goes south on Scottsdale Road, west on First Street, south on Marshall Way and east on Second Street before heading north on Brown Avenue to the finish. More than 100 float entries and 25,000 spectators are expected, organizers said.

After the parade, also on February 13, is the Trail's End Festivals in downtown Scottsdale. Western, Hispanic and Native American cultural entertainment areas will be on hand, along with activities for children, from noon to 5 p.m.

And finally, February 25-28 is the rodeo at WestWorld of Scottsdale.

For more information on all the events, visit www.paradadelsol.net.