Rodeo parade breaks from tradition to a new date and time

Organizers hope to lasso more downtown visitors this year

June 4, 2008 - 6:23PM

BY RINA PALTA

THE GAZETTE

For years, Colorado Springs residents have gathered on a midsummer Saturday morning for the annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade.

Not this year.

The parade will be a worknight affair, starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8.

"The new date and time are huge changes," parade organizer Brenda Carender said. "But we think it's going to work out great."

Typically, the parade falls on the Saturday before the rodeo starts, which in this case is July 5.

"Independence Day is parade day in this country," said Bill Miller, vice president and general manager of the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo. "Who wants to see another parade July 5?"

Parade organizers and city officials wanted to keep the parade as the rodeo's traditional kickoff, while maximizing attendance and the involvement of downtown businesses. The midweek solution is "a win-win for downtown businesses and the rodeo," Carender said.

For one, parades cause street closures, and on weekends, that can prevent visitors and shoppers from getting to downtown, said Beth Kosley, executive director of the Downtown Partnership, an organization that promotes and helps plan the downtown business district.

The time change should also help restaurants, she said.

"When events like this occur in the evening, people often grab a bite waiting for the parade or afterwards," she said.

For downtown bars and clubs, the parade could present an opportunity to rope in rodeo revelers.

"We're going for the whole country spirit," said Johnny Nolan, owner of SouthSide Johnny's on South Tejon Street. Nolan said he'll replace his typical Tuesday night DJ slot with a live country band and offer food and drink specials.

"Anything they do downtown, we get a runoff," he said.

As for retail stores, Carender said they're being encouraged to decorate for the parade.

Regina Romrell, owner of Regina's Unique Boutique, said that she has a display of contemporary Western clothing planned, as she did last year, and that she will likely keep the shop open an extra hour or so.

"We get traffic from the parade for sure," she said. "But we can't stay open too late, of course."

Carender said businesses that stay open should expect serious crowds. She said she expects an attendance of 30,000, up significantly from the 5,000 paradegoers The Gazette estimated last year.

A combination of drawing the post-workday downtown crowd, plans to bus in senior citizens and this year's grand marshal, Gen. Gene Renuart, account for the high expectations. Renuart is commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the U.S. Northern Command.

And then, there's the allure of a mild Colorado Springs night.

"Summer evenings here are beautiful," Carender said. "I think it'll help attendance. In summer, kids are out, parents are looking for something free for them to do."

If they stick around and spend some money, she said, all the better.

The 68th annual Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Parade will start at the intersection of St. Vrain and Tejon streets, cut over at Colorado Avenue, and loop back to the starting point via Cascade Avenue.

The hourlong parade is expected to feature 10 to 12 floats by businesses and military bases, and raise about $37,000 for a scholarship fund for the children and spouses of fallen and wounded soldiers.

The theme is "Break from the Herd."