2025 WAGON DAYS PARADE ENTRANT INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for joining us for the 68th Wagon Days! If you are in town on Friday, join us at 5:30 p.m. for the Wagon Days Grand Marshals Ceremony at Ketchum Town Square. Celebrate the 2025 Wagon Days Grand Marshal, Duffy Whitmer.  BBQ dinner and refreshments compliments of the City of Ketchum.


2025 ENTRANT LISTS
Entry lists by ENTRY NUMBER and LAST NAME.  

EVENT DETAILS
Parade Date: Saturday, August 30, 2025
Staging Area/Registration Opens: 8:30 a.m.
Pre-Judging in staging area: 10:00 a.m. – noon.  
Sun Valley Road Closure: Hard close at 12:00 p.m. Plan on being in the staging area well before closure. 
Parade Start Time: 1:00 p.m.
Weather: Mostly clear skies with warm temperatures during the day, reaching highs around 75°F. Perfect weather for a parade! Temperatures will drop in the evening, so it's advisable to bring layers.

DRIVING TO STAGING AREA AND RED BARN CAMP
AVOID DRIVING INTO DOWNTOWN KETCHUM 
HWY 75 and the bridge into Ketchum are under construction.  We do not advise driving trailers into the City of Ketchum from Hwy 75.  

• Use Elkhorn Road to access the Staging Area. Avoid driving into downtown Ketchum.

• Expect traffic delays as you approach the Elkhorn/Hwy 75 junction and plan for extra drive time.  

• The parade route is unaffected by road construction. 

• View Map:  Google Maps link to registration and red barn.

Local Residents and Groups: Reduce the number of cars at Registration/Staging by carpooling. Parking is limited.  Consider meeting at the Community School Parking Lot and then proceeding to Registration/Staging.

RED BARN CAMPING
Eligibility: Only parade participants are allowed to camp in the Red Barn Camp.
Liability Waiver Required: All Red Barn campers must sign a waiver.
Passes: Issued upon arrival at the gate. Provide your assigned entry number.
Location: Behind the Red Barn on Sun Valley Road.  The location is noted on the Google Maps link
Camping Rules: A Complete set of rules will be provided to you upon entering the Red Barn Camp.  Just a few highlights: Camping is only allowed on Friday and Saturday nights. Campers must vacate on Sunday morning. No fires allowed. Dogs must be leashed and attended at all times.

PARADE STAGING AREA
Opens: 8:30 a.m., Saturday morning.
Location: Horseman’s Center Pasture (across from the Pavilion in the event parking area).
Access:  No entry from Sun Valley Road. All entries must enter from Dollar Road.
Liability Waiver: All participants entering the staging area must sign a liability waiver to participate in the parade and enter the staging/registration area.  NEW THIS YEAR  - Entries and entry crews will be issued a wristband for each person associated with the entry that needs access to the staging area.  The wristband allows admittance and readmittance to the staging area, indicating to the Wagon Days Registration Crew that you have signed the liability waiver.  

PARKING: Only vehicles towing horse trailers are allowed into the staging line area. Car parking for entries is available at the entrance to the Staging Area. Park your car and walk to your entry line.
 

PARADE RULES & GUIDELINES

• Safety First: All participants must be experienced parade riders—no exceptions.

• No Candy Tossing: Due to safety concerns, no candy or items are to be tossed to spectators.

• Forward Motion: All units must maintain a continuous forward motion.

• Horse Condition: Horses must be in good condition, sound, and properly trimmed/shod. No mistreatment or rough handling of horses will be tolerated.  Any unsafe rider or horse will be removed from the parade.

• Spacing: Keep a minimum of 10 feet from spectators and 20 feet from the preceding entry.

• Signage Guidelines: Maximum size: 2’x3’ (each entry allowed two signs or one 4’x6’ sign).

• Prohibited Items/Actions:
     - No cigarettes, alcohol, illegal substances, or profanity.
     - No discharge of guns, water guns, balloons, bikes (unless period authentic), or skates.
     - No Distribution: No political literature or candy along the parade route.
   

PARADE JUDGING

Pre-Judging: Judges will be pre-judging from 10:00 a.m. Noon.   
Required only for new wagon, restored/original wagon, carts, buggies, and carriage categories.

• Prejudging is an opportunity for the Judges to inspect the vehicles up close.  

• You do not need to be in costume or have horses hitched.

• Judges will come to your wagon, cart, coach, or buggy.

Parade Judging: takes place during the parade.
All entries will be judged in the parade in the following areas: animals and grooming, costumes, and presentation. Floats will be judged additionally on theme and originality.   
Judges Stand: Located on Sun Valley Road in front of Idaho Power Water Wheel.

• Do not stop at the Judging Stand.

Awards: Presented at the Participant Picnic. Ribbons and award money, $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for 3rd place. $300 for People’s Choice, $300 for Best of Show
 

PARADE PARTICIPANT PICNIC AND AWARD CEREMONY

Join us after the parade for a complimentary picnic lunch and awards.
Location: Sun Valley Meadows (next to the Catholic Church).
Tickets: Lunch tickets are provided at registration.