Cowtown Goes Green in the Fort Worth Stockyards

21st Annual Cowtown Goes Green

Saturday, March 19 Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District

By Bailey Powell Aldrich

HHave you ever seen an armadillo race? Have you never heard of an armadillo race, but now that you have, you must see one immediately?

Well, now’s your chance! Supported by Public Improvement District 11, the Fort Worth Stockyards is proud to present the city’s largest and most familyfriendly St. Patrick’s Day celebration: the 21st Annual Cowtown Goes Green Celebration and Parade! Taking place on Saturday, March 19 along historic E. Exchange

Ave., this annual event serves as a community-wide celebration of Irish culture with a

Western twist. Don yourself in green for a day of fun that goes from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Free family events include live music, two cattle drives and a behind the scenes meet-and-greet with the Fort Worth Herd (1:30-2:30 p.m.), lawn games, Old West Gunfight shows, clogging and dance troupes, the big Irish-

Western parade at 4 p.m. and, of course, the armadillo races.

There’s more! Some ticketed events include horseback riding, stagecoach rides, a petting corral, mechanical bull rides, pony rides, the Cowtown Cattlepen Maze, historic walking tours, the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, John Wayne Museum, Stockyards Museum, Stockyards Championship Rodeo (Cowtown Coliseum, 7:30 p.m.), mini train rides, and big train rides with the Grapevine Vintage Railroad’s Trinity River Excursion.

Since Cowtown Goes Green has programming throughout the entire day, there will never be a dull moment. From cow milking contests to Chuck Wagon Cowboy Poetry readings to calf-roping training and stick horse racing, there’s something interesting happening every hour. When you’re finished playing cornhole, petting a longhorn, and getting your face painted and glittered, there are also many shops, restaurants, and activities the Fort Worth Stockyards has on offer for you to enjoy.

Cowtown Goes Green is a fabulous, family-friendly event, and is one of many

happening in the Fort Worth Stockyards in March! Spring Breakaway Stockyards Style™ spans three weeks, March 5-26, and exciting events are planned throughout.

On March 10 and 24, Cowtown Coliseum hosts “Bulls Gone Wild,” an extravaganza that mixes freestyle fighters and game show challenges. Also at Cowtown Coliseum, the Stockyards Championship Rodeo is offering BOGO tickets for Friday performances on March 11, 18, and 25. March 16-20 will see a beautifully painted Yuengling-mobile roll onto the Exchange Lawn to celebrate America’s oldest brew-

ery arriving in Texas. On March 17, the Stockyards Heritage Club is putting on a Luck O’ The Stockyards Kegger complete with $4 green draft beers. Those who complete the free sign-up for Stockyards Heritage Club can receive free gifts or a beer there on site. Not much can beat a free sign up for free stuff!

For real time updates, be sure to follow @stockyardsstation on Instagram and

Facebook, @fwsystation on Twitter, and @fortworthkey on all platforms. There’s a lot going on in the Stockyards this month, and you don’t want to miss it!

Thanks in part to the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District, Stockyards Heritage Development Co., Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, Cowtown Coliseum, the Fort Worth Stockyards Business Association, and the Fort Worth Herd for bringing this event to life and their continuous efforts to preserve our Western heritage. For more information, visit www.fortworthstockyards. com or call 817-625-9715.