We are ready to kick off the Annual Western Heritage Classic, a historic event since 1985! The parade will feature horse drawn wagons, riding clubs, buggies, antique cars and tractors, country and western bands, and floats.
ALL ENTRIES MUST HAVE A WESTERN THEME.
We have appreciated your participation in the past and look forward to receiving your entry for this year. The parade will be on Thursday night May 9, at 6:30 PM. Unfortunately, we will not be able to have a Family Street Dance this year due to the construction on Cypress. And with that said there will be a new parade route. We will be going up Walnut St. and then back down Pine St. The staging area will be the same as always.
For us to organize and prepare for the parade, we need your entry returned by April 19, 2024. Please make plans to arrive at your staging area no later than 5:30 PM. This will help us in getting the parade started on time. All parade numbers as well as ground passes will be given to you when you check in at your staging area. The ground passes will enable you to attend all the daily functions of the Western Heritage Classic during the day.
We are asking the parade participants to get into the Western Heritage spirit by adding western music and “Hoop and Hollering” along the parade route. The entries will be judged along the route and (2) $50.00 prizes will be awarded to the most spirited entries.
(CHAIRMAN OR COORDINATORS OF RIDING CLUBS PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR MEMBERS)
All equine units must have a current negative EIA (Coggins) within the last 12 months in order to enter the parade. Papers should include, name, number, date of test, and name of laboratory. Each participant is required to present the above-mentioned documents on demand. Any participant not in compliance with these regulations of the Texas Animal Health Commission will be asked to leave the staging area. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter, as this is a state law not ours.
We certainly appreciate your participation in the past years and hope that you will make every effort to help us kick off the 2024 Western Heritage Classic May 10th thru 11th.
2024 Parade Committee Members
Kathy Grubb Chairman
Beth Byerly and Melanie Martin VIP Co-Chairmen
Sparky & Rose Dean – Connie Keaton – Glen McCorkle
Sandra & Tyler Hamilton – Floyd & Deb Sanders – Randy Roberts
James Grubb – Greg Oliver – Shawn & Brenda Kennedy
WESTERN HERITAGE CLASSIC 2024 PARADE RULES
ALL ENTRIES IN THE PARADE ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THE PARADE ROUTE AS PLANNED. LISTEN TO THE DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY THE PARADE MARSHALS. ANY DEVIATION BY ANY UNIT WILL CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE CITY TRAFFIC. THEY HAVE BEEN MOST GENEROUS IN PROVIDING PERSONNEL TO HELP MOVE THE VARIOUS UNITS THROUGH MAJOR INTERSECTIONS AND WE MUST BE RESPONSIVE ON OUR PART. THANKS FOR YOUR COOPERATION.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!! PLEASE NOTE AND OBSERVE
NO DOUBLE RIDING OF ANY KIND. DO NOT STAND ON YOUR HORSE!
GREEN BROKE OR UNMANAGABLE HORSES SHOULD NOT BE ENTERED IN THE PARADE.
NO MOTORCYCLES MAY BE ENTERED IN THE PARADE.
NO ITEMS INCLUDING CANDY, GUM, BUTTONS, T-SHIRTS, IDENTIFICATION CARDS, ETC. ARE TO BE TOSSED, THROWN, OR HANDED OUT DURING THE PARADE BY ANY PARADE PARTICIPANT OR FROM ANY MOVING VEHICLE. THIS RULE IS IN EFFECT TO PREVENT SMALL CHILDREN FROM DARTING OUT IN FRONT OF ANY PARADE UNIT. PARADE OFFICIALS AND POLICE HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ENFORCE THIS REGULATION.
ONCE ANY UNIT HAS ENTERED THE PARADE NO INDIVIDUAL IN OR ON THAT UNIT IS TO DISMOUNT OR RE-ENTER SAME.
IF YOUR VEHICLE HAS PROBLEMS PLEASE MOVE TO THE SIDE AND LET THE NEXT ENTRY BY.
YOU MUST COMPLETE PARADE ROUTE TO RECEIVE YOUR PRIZE
PARADE ROUTE: THE PARADE ROUTE HAS CHANGED…again due to construction! The parade will proceed under the underpass north on Pine Street. Turn right on North 1st , then left at Walnut. Left again at North 6th to Pine St. and back under the underpass. Try to maintain a 30-foot space between units. Disband in the 200 & 300 block of Chestnut & disperse to the South or West.
Division: Riding Clubs
Subdivisions: Local (30 mile radius), Out-of-Town
Division: Wagons & Buggies
Subdivisions: Chuckwagons, Buggies & Carts, Rubber Tire Wagons, All Other Wagons
Division: Floats Subdivisions: Open, Youth
Division: Antique Vehicles Subdivisions: Pre-1950
Division: Antique Tractors
Awards will be presented in the amounts of:
First $50
Second $35
Third $25
Two $50.00 prizes will be awarded to entries with the best music and Western Spirit!
Most parade officials will be on golf carts & will be wearing red bandanas and blue denim.
You must be in line by 6:00 PM if you want to be judged.
PARKING - Please do not park in staging areas. With the SODA District becoming busier, please be mindful of signs on where you can park. Would not want anyone to get towed.
FLOATS & BANDS – Please enter S. 3rd West bound from Treadaway. Check in at 3rd & Cherry.
BUGGY & WAGONS – Please enter S. 4th West bound from Treadaway. Try to park your trailers to unload on South 4th East of Locust. Once you are loaded, you will be lined up on South 4th. Check in at 4th and Locust - West bound.
RIDING CLUBS, RANCH RODEO TEAMS – Please enter S. 5th West bound from Treadaway. Please unload your animals etc. on the streets East of Locust on S. 5th. You will be lined up on 5th facing Oak Street to enter the parade.
ANTIQUE VEHICLES – Report to check in point on South side of Taylor County Plaza – S. 5th & Chestnut to enter the parade.
ANTIQUE TRACTORS – unload at S. 6th and Oak. Then proceed to S. 5th and Oak for judging and to enter the parade.
The parade actually ends at S. 4th & Chestnut Southbound. Please continue Southbound on Chestnut to S. 6th before turning East so you will not interfere with parade staging.
PLEASE DO NOT BLOCK ANY DRIVEWAYS OR OTHER VEHICLES & REMEMBER TO LOCK YOUR VEHICLES