11:15 AM
GET SET
Find your cattle-drive spot
Head toward the Livestock Exchange Building on East Exchange; arrive a little early for the holiday crowd.
A family day in the Stockyards
Big Texas energy.
Easy family pace.
Longhorns on the street, a holiday parade, and a rodeo matinee—stitched into one simple day in Cowtown.
Friday, November 27, 2026The day after Thanksgiving
Quick timing note: the special matinee starts at 1:30 PM, not 1:00. Aim to reach the Coliseum around 1:00 so you’re not hustling in with the kids.
11:30 AMLonghorn drive
1:30 PMRodeo matinee
Family-readyWalkable district
6:00 PMHoliday tree lighting
One day, two good ways
Pick your longhorn moment.
Both daily cattle drives are free and weather-permitting. The morning one has a bonus: Cowboy Santa’s parade rolls out right after it.
YOUR BLACK FRIDAY FLOW Weather permitting
11:30 AM
THE BIG MOMENT
Longhorns, then Cowboy Santa
Watch the Fort Worth Herd drive by; Cowboy Santa’s Grand Arrival parade follows along East Exchange and Mule Alley. Free and weather-permitting.
12:10 PM
LUNCH
Easy BBQ at Riscky’s
Take a comfortable lunch break, then aim back toward Cowtown Coliseum around 1:00.
1:00 PM
ARRIVAL TARGET
Head over to Cowtown Coliseum
Suggested arrival time—not the rodeo start.
1:30–3:30 PM
MATINEE
Stockyards Championship Rodeo
The official date-specific listing confirms a special Friday matinee.
4:00 PM
OPTIONAL
Second cattle drive
Catch the regular afternoon drive if you want another look; weather permitting.
6:00 PM
STAY A LITTLE LONGER
Tree lighting, then family dinner
The holiday listing has a 6 PM tree lighting on East Exchange.
Fuel the adventure
Good food. Happy wranglers.
Lunch is right in the district; dinner can be a proper family meetup. The hours below are normal Friday hours—holiday service can vary.
THE EASY LUNCH PICKCasual · kid-friendly
Riscky’s BBQ
Texas ribs, sandwiches, and chicken at Stockyards Station—an easy, lively stop after the parade and before the matinee.
LOCALBBQ
CLASSICsince 1927
CLASSICsince 1927
If the cousins are joining
Pick a dinner rendezvous.
Joe T. Garcia’s
Fort Worth family-table legend, classic Tex-Mex, and lush garden spaces. A nice fit when “family dinner” means a few extra chairs.
Provender Hall
A comfortable Stockyards bar & grill, right on Exchange Avenue, with online reservations and private-party details.
Want to loop in the family?We’ll make a ready-to-copy dinner note with your chosen spot.
Pack the day, not the stress
A few things worth knowing.
A little prep goes a long way when the Stockyards are in full holiday mode.
It’s a walking day.
Most stops in this plan are on Exchange Avenue or a short stroll away. Parking and the official district map are worth a look before you set out.
Parking & district infoLonghorns need good weather.
The cattle drive is free and weather-permitting. The Herd may cancel or adjust it for weather or animal care; check its updates that morning.
Fort Worth Herd updatesThere’s a holiday bonus.
Cowboy Santa’s parade follows the 11:30 drive, and the Stockyards list a 6 PM tree lighting. Stay a little longer if the crew is still going strong.
Full holiday scheduleSources, hours & fine print
Checked October 24, 2026. The exact-date Stockyards listing confirms a 1:30–3:30 PM matinee on Nov 27; 1:00 PM is the suggested arrival target, not the show time. The 11:30 AM cattle drive and 4:00 PM drive are weather-permitting; the morning drive is followed by Cowboy Santa’s parade. The 6:00 PM tree lighting is on the holiday schedule.
Restaurant hours shown are the venues’ currently published regular Friday hours, not guaranteed holiday hours. Confirm opening, reservations, and event-day arrangements with the venue before heading over. Show and drive details may change.