Pendleton police ask people to prepare for Friday morning’s parade
By Terry Murry on Thursday, September 17th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – The Westward Ho! Parade is a historical cavalcade that allows no motorized vehicles. Beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, the horses, wagons, oxen, mules, marchers, and walkers will begin near Pendleton City Hall. The route takes it down Dorion Avenue and turns on Southeast Fifth Street. It then heads west on Court Avenue and ends at the Round-up Grounds.
The Pendleton Police Department is charged with sanitizing the route. Their job begins at 7 a.m. as all vehicles parked along the route are towed out of the way.
“Please don’t park on Southwest Dorion or Southeast Dorion from its inception all the way down to Southeast Fifth Street and on Court all the way down to the rodeo grounds,” Nelson said.
He advises those parked along the route need to move their vehicles by 6:30 a.m.
That’s not all. A couple of hours later the entire route is closed down to all motor vehicle traffic. Because of the livestock, which can get skittish, cars only complicate things.
“For the most part we close everything down at 8:30 a.m.,” Nelson said. You will not get through. A lot of people ask, ‘I just need to get down to the parade, I’m in the parade.’ Sorry, you’re walking.”
He advises people who are in the parade should be in place by 8 a.m. He also asks drivers not to try to break through onto the closed roads and to hold their tempers. It’s this way every year.
Parade route map via Pendleton Round-Up & Happy Canyon
