Texas A&M Parsons Mounted Cavalry to headline 2026 Conroe Go Texan Parade

The 61st annual Conroe Go Texan Parade is set to feature the renowned Texas A&M University Parsons Mounted Cavalry in downtown Conroe on February 21, signaling the commencement of rodeo season in Montgomery County.

The parade is set to begin at 1 p.m. at the intersection of FM 2854 and Texas 75, then make its way through downtown before concluding at the original starting point. The event showcases a vibrant array of floats, marching bands, dignitaries from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, elected officials, and numerous horseback riders.

A collaborative effort between the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, the Houston Metro Go Texan Committee, Conroe/Willis/The Woodlands subcommittee, and the Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce has led to the organization of the parade.

In a recent announcement, Parade Chairman Brian Dawson revealed that the local Go Texan committee has successfully allocated $320,000 in scholarship funds to high school students within Conroe ISD and Willis ISD, a direct result of its participation in rodeo activities.

Due to a scheduling conflict involving the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets’ Ross Volunteers, organizers have turned to the Parsons Mounted Cavalry to participate in this year’s event, according to Dawson.

The mounted unit, affiliated with the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets, comprises elements of cavalry, artillery, and quartermaster divisions. The cavalry division comprises approximately 90 cadets alongside 50 horses. Dawson announced that the cadets will include a military cannon in their upcoming display.

Pat Mann Phillips, chairman of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo board, will serve as the grand marshal for the event. Phillips, who served as grand marshal in 2019, has been a dedicated volunteer with the rodeo since 2002.

Under her leadership, the 2025 rodeo season achieved an unprecedented attendance record and shattered 10 auction records, resulting in a significant boost in scholarship funding for students. The inaugural Volunteer Appreciation Day was launched to recognize the contributions of the rodeo's 36,000 volunteers.

The Conroe parade is scheduled to take place one week prior to Houston’s Downtown Rodeo Parade, which will occur on February 28. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is set to take place from March 2 to March 22 at NRG Park.

According to Dawson, participants are advised to assemble along FM 2854 in downtown Conroe, entering from the Interstate 45 feeder road. The route begins at the intersection of Texas 75 and FM 2854, then proceeds east along Metcalf Street. It passes by Conroe City Hall and the western side of the Montgomery County Courthouse before returning to its original starting point.

Dawson reported that the event remains a popular attraction for families across generations, as grandparents who participated in their youth now bring their grandchildren to witness the riders and bands heralding the arrival of rodeo season once more.