The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo has canceled the yearly "All Western Parade" due to the threat of excessive winds.
Stock Show officials decided due to the extreme conditions expected to hit Fort Worth at the same time as the parade, spectators, participants and livestock would be unsafe.
The City of Fort Worth’s Office of Emergency Management and Stock Show officials monitored the weather forecast throughout Friday, communicating frequently with the National Weather Service and ultimately made the decision to cancel the parade at 5:30 p.m.
“While the parade is a celebratory event kicking off our annual Stock Show & Rodeo, we need to make decisions in the best interests of everyone involved,” said Brad Barnes, president and general manager of the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. “Winds are estimated to be sustained at 20 to 30 miles per hour with gusts exceeding 35. The challenging effect of the Northwest winds through downtown skyscrapers will only make these conditions worse.”
Guests who have purchased reserved seating for the parade can exchange their tickets for a season grounds pass for the 23-day run of the Stock Show or request a refund for the dollar value of their parade ticket at the Stock Show’s main ticket offices at 3401 W. Lancaster Avenue.
“I know people like to think cowboys are tough, rugged people, and we like to think we are, but we have to think of the safety of everyone… our guests, the animals, livestock,” said Matt Brockman, the communications manager at the Stock Show.
The parade was set to step-off at 10:30 a.m Saturday morning and make its way through downtown Fort Worth.
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This is just the second time in "recent history" that the Stock Show has been forced to cancel the parade. The last time it was canceled was back in 2007 when an ice storm blanketed North Texas.
Stock Show officials said they don't plan to reschedule the parade.
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