2026 WAGON DAYS PARADE ENTRANT INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for joining us for the 69th 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 2026 Wagon Days Grand Marshal. BBQ dinner and refreshments compliments of the City of Ketchum.

EVENT DETAILS
Parade Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
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: TBD
View Map:  Google Maps link to registration and red barn.

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. 

• 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.

REGISTRATION, CHECK-IN. WAIVERS, AND STAGING 

8:30 AM REGISTRATION AREA OPENS.
Please email if you need to enter before 8:30 AM. 

TRUCKS and TRAILERS:  
Drive up to the desk. A registration volunteer will approach the driver’s window to collect your entry number and sign the required liability waiver.
Once registered, Wagon Days volunteers will direct you to your numbered staging line.

 

ENTRANTS WITH: Cars, Trucks without trailers,

Only trucks towing trailers will be permitted to park in the staging lines for unloading and set-up.

Parking for participant cars and trucks without trailers is located separately from the staging lines.
Wagon Days volunteers will direct cars and trucks without trailers to the designated parking area.

Only registered parade participants may park in the staging area.

Required Liability Waiver

MANDATORY WAIVER AND WRIST BAND FOR ALL ENTRIES AND PARTICIPANTS TO ENTER THE STAGING AREA - Download Minor Entry Form

ALL PARADE PARTICIPANTS - must sign a liability waiver upon entry into the Staging Area, located on Sun Valley Company property.

Anyone who does not sign the waiver will not be permitted to access or enter the staging area or participate in the parade.

Once you have signed a liability waiver, you will be issued a wristband.  The wristband indicates to security that you have signed the liability waiver and may enter the staging area.

Please make sure all individuals helping you to set up your entry, individuals that are riding in entries, or any individuals that are traveling in a party have signed the waiver and received a wrist band.  Otherwise, they will not be allowed back into the area.

This also includes minors.  Please ensure that a guardian is present to sign for the minor, or has sent a waiver with the group contact.

Download Minor Entry Form

Parade Safety, Guidelines, and Rules

The following guidelines have been established to protect the well-being of the horses and the safety of participants and spectators in the Wagon Days Parade.  Safety is our primary concern. All riders and drivers must have the experience necessary to participate safely in a parade. There will be no exceptions.
 

Participants must follow these guidelines to protect horses, participants, and spectators from injury. Parade officials will ensure compliance. Any rider, driver, entry, or animal deemed unsafe may be removed from the parade.

Participant and Entry Safety
 

• Candy, promotional items, literature, and other objects may not be tossed or distributed along the parade route. This is a serious safety issue, especially in a non-motorized parade.

• All entries must maintain forward motion.

• Maintain at least 25 feet between your entry and the entry ahead of you.

• Do not pick up spectators during the parade.

• Keep wagons and horses near the center of the road and maintain a safe distance from spectators.

• Smoking, vaping, and alcohol are prohibited in the staging area and during the parade. Anyone who needs to smoke or vape must leave the staging area. The staging area becomes crowded as parade time approaches, and we want to be considerate of our neighbors and fellow participants.

• IT IS FIRE SEASON.  Please use fire-wise judgment.  No open flames, nothing that could spark a fire, etc.  

• Profanity is not permitted along the parade route. This is a family-friendly environment.

• Water Devices, Firecrackers, and Costume Firearms

• Water guns and water balloons are prohibited.

• Firecrackers, explosive devices, and the discharge of cap guns or any other firearm are prohibited.

• Period-appropriate replica or authentic firearms may be included as part of an early 1900s costume only if they are unloaded and secured in a holster.

• Cap guns may be carried as costume pieces but may not be discharged.

• All costume firearms must remain holstered in the staging area and throughout the parade.

• A firearm may not be removed, handled, played with, or pointed at another person at any time, even in jest.
  
  OVERALL WAGON DAY OPERATING PHILOSOPHY
  We are all neighbors, friends, and community members.  
  Rudeness and unthoughtful behaviour just plain don't belong at Wagon Days.  
  We are all happy to be here!  

Horse Safety and Care

• All horses must be properly trimmed or shod.

• Only experienced riders and drivers are permitted in the parade.

• Horses must be in good physical condition for the possible heat and the length of the parade route.

• Horses must be sound and show no evidence of lameness.

• Mistreatment, rough handling, or abuse of horses is not tolerated.

• Overly excited or unmanageable animals may be removed from the parade by parade officials. 

• Participants should anticipate that horses may become excited or spooked by loud music, marching bands, sudden noises, wind-blown paper, or streamers.

Overnight Parking and Camping

Who May Camp

Overnight camping and parking are available only to registered parade participants. A separate liability waiver must be signed to access the Red Barn Camping Area. 

Camping Dates and Arrival
Overnight camping is permitted on Friday, September 4, and Saturday, September 5, only.  If you need to arrive on Thursday, please contact Wagon Days ahead of time to request an early arrival.  

• Participants may not enter the camping area before noon on Friday.

• Participants must vacate the camping area on Sunday morning, September 6, before 10 am.

• You will be provided with all Red Barn Camping Rules upon arrival.  

Camping Pass and Waiver

Registered Entries that have signed a liability waiver will be issued a Camping Pass.
Your camping pass will be issued upon arrival.
Please be prepared to provide the attendant at the gate with your assigned entry number.
Anyone unwilling to sign the waiver must make other camping arrangements.

 

Judging

Pre-Judging

If you choose to have your entry judged, please read the following instructions carefully.
Pre-judging is required for entries in the following categories: New Wagon, Restored/Original, Cart, Buggy/Carriage

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Pre-judging will begin at 11:00 a.m.
Entries are not required to be in costume, and horses are not required to be hitched for pre-judging.

Judging During the Parade

All categories, including pre-judged wagons, will also be judged during the parade. The judging stand will be located on Sun Valley Road in front of the Idaho Power Water Wheel.
 

Do not stop at the judging stand. Continue moving forward at the established parade pace.

Awards and Prize Money

Prizes will be awarded at the post-parade picnic. First Place, Best in Show, and People's Choice received a ribbon and Wagon Days Buckle.  Second and Third place receive ribbons and prize money is awarded as below.

• First Place: $300

• Second Place: $200

• Third Place: $100

• Best in Show: $300

• People’s Choice: $300

The Wagon Days Committee reserves the right to combine existing categories or create additional categories.

Emergency Services, Toilets, and Water

Emergency Services

The City’s ambulance team and emergency medical technicians will be stationed in the staging area and along the parade route.

Toilets and Water

Portable toilets and water for animals will be available at:

• The Red Barn Parade Participant Camping Area

• The Registration and Staging Area

Please bring plenty of drinking water for yourself and everyone participating in your entry.

Signs, Decorations, and Political Entries

The Wagon Days Committee is committed to preserving the historic character of the parade. The following guidelines apply to all signs, decorations, and political entries.

Signage Limits

Each entry is allowed a total sign area of no more than 24 square feet. This may include two signs measuring 2 feet by 6 feet each or another combination that does not exceed 24 square feet.

Participants with additional signage needs may have a person walk beside the entry and carry a sign, provided that person can do so safely and does not interfere with other parade entries.

Political Entries 

• Political candidates and all participants accompanying a political entry must wear Western attire.

• The Wagon Days Committee will provide signs for sponsored entries.

• No entrant may distribute political literature, candy, or other items along the parade route.

• Any entry found distributing candy or other items may be removed from the parade.

Candy and other items may not be thrown or distributed because they can draw children into the street and create a serious hazard for horses, participants, and spectators.
  

Non-Motorized Entries and Period Costumes
 

Non-Motorized Parade

Wagon Days is a strictly non-motorized parade.

Modern bicycles, roller skates, rollerblades, and similar equipment are generally not permitted.

Exceptions may be approved when:

• A bicycle is authentic to or replicates a style used before 1910.

• A bicycle or skates are fully incorporated into a costume representing Ketchum’s mining era.

• The equipment is disguised as part of a historically themed entry, such as a bicycle made to appear to be a horse or skates made to resemble antique cross-country skis or snowshoes.

•  

Parade Participant Picnic and Awards Ceremony
Complimentary Participant Lunch
We hope you will join us after the parade for a complimentary lunch for parade participants.
You will receive your lunch ticket at the registration desk.

Each person who rides, drives, walks, or otherwise participates in the parade will receive one complimentary lunch ticket.

Lunch for Family and Guests

Friends and family members who did not participate in the parade but travelled with you are welcome to attend. We request a $5 donation for each additional guest.

Your donation helps offset rising food costs and allows us to continue providing a complimentary lunch for parade participants.

Picnic Location

The picnic will be held at Sun Valley Champion Meadows, an open grassy area adjacent to Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church and across the street from the Red Barn Parade Participant Camping Area.

The picnic area is an easy walk from the parade staging area and is located directly across from the Red Barn Camping area.
Awards will be announced during the picnic.

Other Wagon Days Events

Visit Wagondays.com for the complete schedule of events.
Wagon Days events and activities take place throughout the Wood River Valley over Labor Day weekend.
We hope you enjoy your stay and the celebration.

Insurance
The Wagon Days Parade is an event produced by the City of Ketchum and is covered by the City’s liability policy. If an accident or injury occurs during the parade and the City of Ketchum is determined to be liable, the City’s liability insurance will apply.

We are delighted to have you join us for Wagon Days and look forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 5.