Thank you for joining us for the 66th Wagon Days!

 

Please Join Us -Friday, September 1, at 5:30 PM for the Grand Marshals Ceremony

If you are in the Sun Valley/Ketchum Area on Friday, September 1st,  please join us for the Grand Marshals Celebration at Ketchum Town Square. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.  For all of you Wagon Days fans this is an event not to be missed.  Food and Refreshments provided.  

 

Parade Entry Instructions

 

Parade Date: Saturday, September 2, 2023

Plan to be in the staging area by: 11:00 a.m. if you would like to be judged.

Sun Valley Road Closure: 12:00 p.m.

Parade Start Time: 1 p.m.

 

DRIVING INTO TOWN

 

Upon driving into the Ketchum/Sun Valley Area we encourage you to approach the Staging Area or the Red Barn Camping area by taking Elkhorn Road.  This route will avoid congested traffic and is easier to negotiate with a trailer.   

View this route on Google Maps – A map is also included.

From Elkhorn Road to Stageing Area

• From HWY 75 Turn on to Elkhorn Road.  

• Drive approximately 2.1.  miles to Dollar/Saddle Road

• Turn Left on to Dollar Saddle Road.  

• The Staging Area is on your left approximately ½ mile down the road

To the Red Barn Camping Area

• From the Staging Area continue on Dollar Road to Sun Valley Road light.

• Turn Left onto Sun Valley Road

• In approximately ½ mile The Red Barn Camping area is to the left 

 

Staging 

Please read carefully.  Staging area opens at 8:00 AM on Saturday morning. 

• All entries will stage at the Horseman’s Center Pasture, Across the road from the Pavilion in the event parking area.

• Use Elkhorn Road to access the Staging Area (map and instructions)

• There is NO entry to the staging area off Sun Valley Road.  All entries must enter the staging area from Dollar Road.  

• All entries must check in at the Registration/Staging.  

• Only vehicles towing horse trailers will be allowed into the staging area.  Reserved parking for entries driving passenger cars is located at the entrance to Registration/Staging. 

• All persons entering the staging area will be required to sign a liability waiver in order to enter Sun Valley Company property (staging area) if you are unwilling to sign this waiver, you will not be able to participate in the parade.

 

Parade Guidelines

The following guidelines have been established to ensure the well-being of horses and the safety of parade participants and watchers in the Puyallup Fair Western Rodeo Parade.

Safety is the primary concern; therefore, it is required that all participants be experienced parade riders. There will be no exceptions!

Participants are asked to follow these guidelines to protect horses and people in the parade from injury. Parade officials will ensure compliance with these guidelines. Any rider or animal deemed unsafe will be removed from the parade.

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Due to safety concerns, no tossing of candy or other items to spectators. 

• All units must maintain a forward motion. 

• All horses must be properly trimmed or shod. 

• Only experienced riders who have previous experience riding on their own horse in 
another parade will be permitted in the parade. 

• Horses must be in good condition for the possible heat and the long walk. 
  Horses must be sound, with no evidence of lameness. 

• A veterinarian must be on call to immediately respond to any injuries. 

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

• Any overly excited horse will be asked to leave the parade by parade officials.

• Mounted riders are not allowed to pick up spectators during the parade. 

• Only one rider per horse is permitted. 

• Horses should be kept a minimum of six to ten feet from spectators. 

• During the parade, participants should never get closer than twenty feet from the preceding parade participants. 

• Anticipate that horses may become excited or spooked by loud music, marching bands, explosive devices, wind-blown paper, or streamers. 

• The use of cigarettes, alcohol, or illegal substances is forbidden. 

• No profanity along the parade route. 

 

Red Barn Camping

• In order to camp or park overnight you must be participating in the parade.  

• Your pass will be issued to you when you arrive.  Please be prepared to tell the check in person at the gate your assigned entry number.  

§  Overnight camping is located in the pasture behind the red barn on Sun Valley Road.  The red barn is just beyond the Idaho Power paddle wheel on the right.  The entrance is just beyond the red barn.  

§  You may only stay Friday and Saturday night.  No entry prior to noon on Friday. 

§  Please, plan to vacate Sunday morning.  

§  Absolutely no fires are allowed.

§   All Red Barn campers will be required to sign a liability waiver in order to stay on Sun Valley Company property.  If you are unwilling to sign this waiver please make other arrangements for camping.

 

 

Judging

If you choose to have your entry judged please read the instructions below.

• Pre-judging is required for entries in the new wagon, restored/original wagon, carts, buggies and carriage categories.  

• Pre-judging will take place at 11 a.m.  

• Entries will not be required to be in costume or have horses hitched for pre-judging.  

• All categories, including the pre-judged wagons, will be judged during the parade.  The Judging Stand is on Sun Valley Road in front of the Idaho Power Water Wheel.  

• DO NOT STOP AT THE JUDGING STAND.  

• Prizes for all categories will be awarded at the post parade picnic following the parade. 

• Ribbons and checks will be awarded:  $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third place.  We reserve the right to combine or create categories. 

 

Local Resident Groups

Please try to minimize the number of cars coming to the Registration/Staging area. Meet your group elsewhere and come together to the Registration/Staging area.  There is limited parking available and dropping off people increases the congestion if done one at a time.  We suggest you drop off at the Community School Parking Lot and then meet your party there after the parade.  Be sure to tell all group members your entry number before parade day, as this helps minimize confusion at the check-in.

 

 

Entry Numbers

• At check-in, you will receive two signs with your designated entry numbers.  Fasten them toward the front of your wagon or from the saddle on the right and left-hand sides.

• Please keep about fifty feet between each entry while in the parade.  Help us keep the parade moving and free of gaps.  

 

Emergency Services/Restrooms/Water

• The City’s ambulance team and emergency medical technicians will be at the Registration/Staging Area.  

• There will be portable toilets in the Staging Area and Red Barn Camping area.

• Please bring your own drinking water and plenty of it.  

• Water for the horses is at the Red Barn and Registration/Staging area. You will need to provide your own water vessel.

 

Signage and decoration of Wagons

The Wagon Days Committee is very determined to make the parade as authentic as possible.  Therefore, there are several guidelines concerning political signs must be followed.  

• Signs may not be larger than 2 feet by 3 feet.  Each entry may not have more than 2 signs or one sign that is 4’ by 6’.  

• For Political Candidates - All candidates and helpers must be in western dress.  

• The Wagon Days Committee provides signs for sponsored entries.

• No entrant is allowed to pass out political literature or candy along the parade route.  Any entrant with candy will be asked to leave the parade.  WE CANNOT ALLOW CANDY TO BE THROWN BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE DANGER TO HORSES AND CHILDREN. 

• WE ALSO DO NOT ALLOW BALLOONS, DISCHARGING OF GUNS OR WATER GUNS, BIKES (unless period authentic)OR INLINE SKATES IN THE PARADE. (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OUR POOPER-SCOOPERS!)

 

Parade Participant Picnic and Award Ceremony

We hope you will join us, after the parade for a complimentary lunch for all the parade entries. 

• You will receive your “lunch” ticket at the registration desk.  

• Each person that actually rides in the parade will receive a lunch ticket. If you have friends or family that would like to attend the picnic with you a ticket may be purchased for $10.   Thank you for understanding! Please help us continue to provide a free lunch for the parade participants by purchasing a lunch ticket for guests.  The rising costs of food and unpaid for guests has increased our picnic budget significantly.  We would like to continue this tradition.  

• The location of the picnic is the Sun Valley Meadows.  The lot next to the Catholic Church, an easy walk from the parade staging area.  

• Awards will be announced at the picnic.  

 

Other Events and Activities

Visit www.wagondays.com for a schedule of events.  Events and activities are presented valley wide, all weekend long.  We hope that you enjoy your stay.

 

Insurance

The Wagon Days parade, a special event sponsored by the City, is an event covered by the city’s liability policy.  If accidents or injuries occur during the parade to the extent that the City of Ketchum is liable for such injuries or accidents, then the city’s liability insurance will be in effect.

 

We are delighted to have you with us this year!