''Go Texan Day'' is Friday, February 26

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - Go Texan Day is Friday, February 26, the annual event that harkens back to 1932, when the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo first started. Go Texan Day is always celebrated the Friday before the Houston Rodeo starts. Texans are encouraged to wear western attire to show their Texas pride and in the rodeo spirit.

Many Texans retrace the trail rides established when cattlemen drove their stock to market in the mid to late 1800s. A time-honored tradition, there are 13 trail ride associations that hit the trails to celebrate their roots and the rodeo. The oldest trail ride is the Salt Grass Trail Ride formed in 1952, that makes the 104-mile ride in from Brenham. The longest is the Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride (1973)...a grueling 386-mile ride from Reynosa, Mexico.

On Go Texan Day the trail rides can be seen converging on Houston from all directions along the major freeways. The trail rides are timed to ride in after the peak morning traffic; about the time most people take a coffee break. To take part in the tradition, Texans line the routes to wave the trail riders in.

The trail rides are listed in alphabetical order. Stake out a place along one of the trails to take part in this long-standing Texas tradition.

Los Vaqueros Rio Grande Trail Ride, established in 1973
386-mile ride from Reynosa, Mexico
2016 Start Date: Feb. 6 - 27

Mission Trail Ride, established in 1990
235-mile ride from San Antonio, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 13 - 27

Northeastern Trail Ride, established in 1982
108-mile ride from Cheek, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Old Spanish Trail Ride, established in 1956
216-mile ride from Logansport, La.
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20- 27

Prairie View Trail Ride, established in 1957
87-mile ride from Hempstead, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 21 - 27

Salt Grass Trail Ride, established in 1952
104-mile ride from Brenham, Texas
2016 Feb. 20- 27

Sam Houston Trail Ride, established in 1955
70-mile ride from Montgomery, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 22 - 27

Southwest Trail Ride, established in 1993
120-mile ride from Rosenberg, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Southwestern Trail Ride, established in 1973
102-mile ride from Angleton, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Spanish Trail Ride, established in 1961
109-mile ride from Shepherd, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Texas Cattlemen's Trail Ride, established in 1986
69-mile ride from Anderson, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27
See related VIDEO & Photo Gallery of the Texas Cattlemen's Trail Ride.

Texas Independence Trail Ride, established in 1961
108-mile ride from Brazoria, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Valley Lodge Trail Ride, established in 1959
75-mile ride from Brookshire, Texas
2016 Start Date: Feb. 20 - 27

Conroe ISD teachers and students will also be celebrating Go Texan Day, Friday, February 26, by wearing their western wear to school. In addition to wearing denim jeans and boots, and welcoming in the trail riders, other celebratory Go Texan Day activities include eating bar-b-q, chili cook-offs, and supporting the rodeo events to help fund this scholarship fundraiser.

To view the list of shows at the this year’s rodeo, in addition to ticket visit Entertainment lineup for 2016 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

#GoTexan #HLSR