A looming snowstorm has knocked the annual opening parade for the National Western Stock Show off the rails.
The stock show parade, originally scheduled for noon Thursday in downtown Denver, won’t be held, nor will it be rescheduled, according to Karen Woods, stock show spokeswoman.
Snow is likely to begin Wednesday evening and through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.
“After several hours of gathering facts, we have decided to cancel the parade. … The risk of animal injury and injury to people is far too great with the 4 to 8 inches of snow predicted and 6-degree temperatures,” stock show president Paul Andrews said.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Wranglers keep the popular and iconic Longhorn cattle from Searle Ranch corralled in a group as the National Western Stock Show Parade makes its way up 17th Avenue on Jan. 8, 2015, in downtown Denver.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
Kindergartners from Polaris Elementary School watch the 107th National Western Stock Show Parade on Jan. 10, 2013, in downtown Denver.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
Longhorns move along 17th Street during the annual National Western Stock Show Parade on Jan. 8, 2015, in downtown Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Riders with the Round Up Riders of the Rockies ride in the National Western Stock Show parade as they make their way up 17th Avenue for the 109th Stock Show on Jan. 8, 2015, in Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Stan Searle, left, leads his herd of Texas Longhorn cattle during the annual National Western Stock Show parade as it makes its way up 17th Avenue on Jan. 7, 2016 in Denver. Along with the cattle were horseback riders, cowboys and cowgirls, the Westernaires and antique tractors. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Rich Karlis, a former Denver Broncos place-kicker. The 2016 National Western Stock Show opens Saturday.
Hyoung Chang, The Denver Post
The 107th National Western Stock Show Parade proceeds on Jan. 10, 2013, in downtown Denver.
Joe Amon/The Denver Post
The annual National Western Stock Show Parade has the total attention of 5 year old Jamison Purser of Denver marching up 17 Street in downtown Denver January 08, 2015 Denver, CO.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
The herd of Texas Longhorn cattle, belonging to the Searle Ranch, lead the annual National Western Stock Show parade as it makes it's way up 17th Avenue on January 7, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. Along with the cattle were horseback riders, cowboys and cowgirls, the Westernaires, and antique tractors. The parade was led by Grand Marshal Rich Karlis, a former Denver Broncos' place-kicker. The 2016 National Western Stock Show opens Saturday.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Abby Kurtz, right, rides with the Westernaires in the stock show parade as they make their way up 17th ave in Denver, CO to commemorate the 109th Stock Show on January 8, 2015.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Wranglers keep the popular and iconic Longhorn cattle from Searle Ranch corralled in a group as the National Western Stock Show Parade makes its way up 17th Avenue ahead of the 109th edition of the stock show on Jan. 8, 2015, in downtown Denver.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
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Wranglers keep the popular and iconic Longhorn cattle from Searle Ranch corralled in a group as the National Western Stock Show Parade makes its way up 17th Avenue on Jan. 8, 2015, in downtown Denver.
The combination of cold and snow would present too great a risk to safety, Andrews said.
“A horse on ice is a horrible combination. If a horse lost its footing and went down, it could become an animal on the loose and go into the crowd,” he added.
Andrews said organizers checked the weather with forecasters before deciding to cancel the parade.
The National Western Stock Show’s parade through the streets of downtown Denver started in 1984. Weather has forced cancellation once since then, said Andrews, but he didn’t know what year that had happened.
This year the Denver Broncos mascot, an Arabian gelding named Thunder, was to be the parade grand marshal.
Thunder will now act as grand marshal in 2018.
The annual stock show parade barbecue lunch will take place, as scheduled, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the atrium of the Wells Fargo Building at 17th Street and Broadway.
