Hollywood would have moviegoers believe that black cowboys never rode West.

But they did. And in Oakland, they aren’t forgetting about it. Saturday marked the 41st annual Black Cowboy Parade. With it came all manner of chaps, big-rim hats, pointy-toed boots, wild-eyed horses and Latigo, which is tanned cowhide to the uninitiated. Residents from all over the Bay Area lined the sidewalks wielding smartphone cameras and awaiting — of all things — cowboys astride galloping stallions.

“I want to ride that big horse,” said one pint-size tot in a pink hat and boots. “That’s such a big horse.”

The daylong festival at Oakland’s DeFremery Park included food booths, historical discussions, live music and little-known stories about the black pioneers who drove cattle, settled towns, forged trails, roped steers and rode the range. It was a day to remember and celebrate the largely forgotten history of the African American cowboy, who by some estimates made up as much as one-quarter of all the cowboys in the Old West.

“It’s nice to have an event to take your kids to, especially when they’re part African American,” said Bay Jones of San Francisco’s Bernal Heights. “Kids need to learn about their history and their people. To have an event that follows black heritage on the Western frontier is special.”

Her identical twin sons, Nico and Mateo, 3, watched in rapt attention as a black horse frothing in sweat galloped down the street. Jones corralled them closer to the sidewalk.

“They absolutely love this stuff,” Jones said. “Especially since you never see cowboys or horses in San Francisco. Who would have thought?”

Across 18th Street, Elizabeth Clements held 3-year-old daughter Autumn on her shoulders and clutched the hand of 5-year-old Ryan. Clements grew up in Oakland and went to the parade regularly as a kid — though she hasn’t been back since she was 10 years old. Her kids had never seen a cowboy and wanted to check the parade out.

“My son wanted to see some cowboys, and I immediately thought of the parade,” she said. “You don’t see cowboys in Oakland ever. And I mean that — it’s so random. This is an amazing thing to see.”

It’s a reason for celebration, said Nay Colvin of Oakland, especially since black cowboys are often forgotten.

“We all come together for something that is not considered normal in Oakland,” she said. “I’ve got two kids, and I think it’s important to show them what’s out there and embrace it. This gets you out of the grind of daily life.”

The parade wasn’t just cowboys, though. There were clowns with painted faces on stilts and unicycles, a group of girls dancing with red plaid shirts tied around their waists, and teens from a local military academy marching in camouflage. There were Girl Scouts and residents driving vintage cars and drummers tapping out a frenetic beat.

It’s all part of the experience, Florene Braneon of Oakland said. She grew up watching the parade and loves every part — not just the cowboys.

“You can’t even pick a favorite part because there’s too much,” she said, shading her eyes with a hand. “Maybe that’s a good thing. It shows how diverse this community is. I love everything about it.”

Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @lizziejohnsonnn