PENDLETON — The Westward Ho! Parade to be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 17 during the Pendleton Round-Up will feature the largest number of entries in parade history. The logistics of featuring an estimated 1,200 animals in the non-motorized vehicle parade while allowing ticket holders access to the Round-Up Grounds by 11:30 a.m. to see the serpentine has caused Parade Director Billy Lorenzen to reverse the direction while the route will remain virtually the same.
“There’s no other way to do it and still give people access to the arena for the serpentine,” Lorenzen said. “It has to happen. There are 1,200 horses in the parade this year and things can happen with animals that could cause delays. We have to make it possible for ticket holders to get to the Round-Up Grounds.”
Lorenzen has met with Pendleton Police Chief Stuart Roberts about the logistics involved in the reversal of direction and says Roberts has been very cooperative about initiating the change.
All entrants will stage around the Round-Up Grounds and the Pendleton Convention Center, Lorenzen said. They will travel north on Southwest Court Avenue and then turn at the usual location and cross to Southeast Dorion Avenue and head back to the south. By traversing Court Avenue first, the street in front of the Round-Up Grounds should be cleared for people to easily walk down to the arena in time for the serpentine display of horsemanship.
“People who have tickets to Friday’s rodeo will want to watch the parade on Court,” Lorenzen said. “People who don’t will probably prefer to watch it on Dorion. We haven’t changed the route, just the direction.”
During Round-Up’s centennial parade there will be five announcer stands keeping track of the entries. They will be located at the Round-Up Grounds, at the new park on Southwest Court that allows access to the river parkway, on the north side of Main Street, near the post office and on Southeast Dorion Avenue and Southeast Eighth Street.
Lorenzen has made sure this parade will vividly reflect the history of Eastern Oregon in a timeline. Mark Rosenberg, carrying the American flag, will lead the parade. He will be followed by the five grand marshals, the chiefs of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the oldest living Round-Up president. Following them will be the Round-Up and Happy Canyon boards of directors and royalty. Next will be 100 American flags, all of which have flown over bases in Afghanistan.
After the introductory entrants, the timeline begins.
“First will be the members of the Confederated Tribes, because they were here first,” Lorenzen said. “They will be followed by the wagons and stage coaches, staying true to the years they were here. Sheep came first so they will be in front of the wheat wagons and it will continue like that.”
This is the first year the Westward Ho! Parade has required advance registration from people participating in it. Lorenzen said that gives Round-Up the opportunity to plan the procession for historical accuracy and to anticipate problems like a large number of entries.
“We’re trying reversing the direction this year,” Lorenzen said. “If it works we’ll continue with it. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to the other direction.”
Category: News & Updates