More than 100 entries are expected to participate in the Daybreak Rotary’s Stampede Parade Saturday, and there is still time to join the fun.
“We are looking forward to the parade,” says parade marshal Erik Zwiers. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The excitement of the parade is building with floats coming in from Kelowna, 100 Mile House, Quesnel and Prince George carrying ambassadors, numerous vintage and antique vehicles carrying local, regional and provincial dignitaries and lots of bands including the Williams Lake Pipe Band, Williams Lake Community Band and more.
About 30 Shriners, including a Shrine band visiting from the North Okanagan, are among the entries, Zwiers says.
Horse entries are always numerous and popular. He says they have entries as small as a grandfather riding a horse with his grandson, to 200-foot mechanical entries.
While the official entry deadline was last Friday, he says entries will be accepted right up until about 8:30 a.m. on parade day Saturday morning.
The parade theme this year is brought to you by the number 4 and the letter H.
In keeping with the theme the honorary parade marshals are Bill and Lyn Stafford, longtime 4-H Club supporters.
The first prize for the theme entry is $500 cash. Second prize is $250 cash. All entries will be judged automatically for best theme entry.
The parade starts at 10 a.m. this Saturday, June 28 from the corner of North Fourth Avenue and Proctor Street and will wend its way along Fourth Avenue, turning left on Borland Street, right on Seventh Avenue, the right again to come all the way along Oliver Street until turning right again at First Avenue moving to the finish line.
The entry check-in time is 7 a.m. at the corner of Comer Street and Second Avenue.
Judging takes place between 8 a.m. and 9:15 a.m.
Zwiers says entrants should access the parade route via Rose Street on Mackenzie Avenue and follow the signs on Mackenzie Avenue and Second Avenue to the check-in.
For the safety of everyone Zwiers urges people to be extra careful driving downtown on parade day, to respect barricades and park on side streets, church and school parking lots away from the parade areas.