Western Heritage Classic rides through downtown Abilene

For the first time in a long time, a parade passed Abilene City Hall.

Thursday's Western Heritage Classic parade marked the opening of the celebration of all things Western at the Taylor County Expo Center.

With road work continuing to block Cypress Street, the usual parade route through Abilene was switched for entrants to travel north up Walnut Street before turning at North Fifth Street to proceed south down Pine Street.

This marks the 38th year for Western Heritage, which began in 1985 but skipped 2020 due to the pandemic. The weekend was filled with ranch rodeo performances, cowboy poetry, horse races and horse clinics.

For 2024, a relief program has been created to assist those ranchers affected by the ongoing threat of wildfires and other natural disasters.

The WHC Disaster Relief Fund is administered by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association's Disaster Relief Fund. Donations can be made at the Expo Center's main office.