The iconic Colorado Springs Western Street Breakfast returned to Tejon Street on Thursday morning, ringing in the summer and the exciting start of the Pikes Peak Rodeo season.

Per tradition, Fort Carson soldiers worked late into the night Wednesday to ensure the event’s timely kick-off at 5:30 a.m., cooking up pancakes, eggs and sausage for the masses who were armed with their cowboy hats, boots and Western spirit.

Costing only $5 for the full spread, the price hasn’t increased much from its original $1 price tag nearly 100 years ago amid the event’s humble beginnings.

“It’s nice to see people interested in Western heritage. This is our first time up here, and I’m kind of shocked by the amount of people who have shown interest in the Range Riders and want to pick up a rope. It’s a positive outlook,” said Amber Schalla, a ranch owner from southeast Colorado.

Teaching roping techniques and how to lasso to the breakfast crowds, Schalla spoke on the importance of her Western heritage, and sharing it with the community Thursday morning.

“We’re kind of a dying breed, being a cowboy. To be able to come here and share it with kids from the city who don’t know much about rope or riding, it’s neat to see,” Schalla said, a smile peering below the rim of her hat.

“It’s a way of life, I was raised in the Western lifestyle and we’re raising our kids that way. It’s the American West. It’s our tradition.”

The local street breakfast traditions date back to 1936, according to the event website.

The first Western Street Breakfast 88 years ago featured a small fraction of the crowds seen Thursday, 35 rodeo cowhands and belles who were served breakfast out of an old chuck wagon in front of Joe Reich’s Swiss Chalet — now the home of La Baguette’s downtown location.

The Pike’s Peak Range Riders’ horseback trek downtown began in 1949. On Thursday, the Range Riders and their trusty steeds made their appearance at 8 a.m. sharp, waving to patrons pridefully.

Today, the event is one of remembrance and tradition. Along with a classic American breakfast, event patrons were seen enjoying an array of music, performances and Western-centric activities throughout a portion of the downtown Colorado Springs area.

“To me, the historic value of the Western tradition in Colorado Springs is lost in translation. People want to have that Western culture, but a lot of people don’t understand how to live that Western culture,” Ralph Bowers, a historic reenactment performer with Colorado Cowboys, said.

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Bowers said that while he’s noticed the street breakfast seemingly decrease in size over the years, he does believe Western culture is making a “resurgence” in popularity.

“When you think cowboys and Western culture people tend to think of horses and shooting things up, everything like that, but it’s so much more,” Bowers said.

Dressed as historic Colorado cowboy U.S. Marshall David James Cook, Bowers spoke briefly on the figure’s history in Colorado and his impact.

“In Colorado, he started the Rocky Mountain Detective Agency. He also was a Union soldier that came out here to stop the confederates from stealing gold from the (Native Americans) to support the southern Confederacy,” Bowers said.

“He’s not one of the better-known historical people, but he’s a very interesting person.”

Rob Devega and his two daughters, Ruth and Nicolette, could be seen eagerly awaiting their turns to have their faces painted. Carrying a deep familial history within the Western culture in Colorado Springs, little Ruth Devega beamed with pride at the event.

“Being a cowgirl means a lot to me,” Ruth Devega said, sporting a red hat and matching handkerchief. “It goes back to the history of our family when it comes to the Native Americans and the cowboys and cowgirls and our ranch our family owned back in the day.”

“We’re up in Black Forest, we’re Native American in heritage,” Rob Devega said. “It’s great to see everyone getting dressed up and having an appreciation for the community, and all its different cultures. No matter where you’re from, everyone can be a cowboy and a cowgirl.”

The last music act of the morning, the Flying W Wranglers garnered quite the surrounding crowd, pressed against the guard rails; laying and standing on the makeshift stadium of hay bails.

Known around the world since its formation in 1953, the musical group is known as the second oldest Western performance band internationally. Over 60 performers have been a part of the band since its start, several of which have performed for more than three decades, according to its website.

Hoots, hollers and ‘yeehaws’ could be heard throughout the crowd as the guitars ramped up their twang and the strings of the fiddle were picked.

“Cowboy, great American cowboy,” the band sang in a four-part harmony.

“With a hoss and a rope and a gun, he tamed the West!”

For more information about the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, scheduled for July 9 through 13, Click or Tap Here.