Pink is today, parade is tomorrow
By Terry Murry on Thursday, September 15th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
PENDLETON – Today (Thursday) is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day at the Pendleton Round-Up. Friday, meanwhile, sees the world-famous Westward Ho! Parade beginning at 10 a.m. leaving around Pendleton City Hall on Southwest Dorion Avenue.
The parade happens every year, but Police Chief Chuck Byram said that every year there are irate motorists who can’t get where they want to go because of the parade. Byram said it’s essential that the entire parade route be shut down to regular traffic.
“You’re not going to be able to get to the things that you need to get to after 8 a.m.,” he said. “It’s just not going to happen. Between 8 and noon, you’re not going to be able to get to the downtown core by vehicle.”
There are no motorized vehicles allowed in the parade. All types of early transportation are featured including horses, mules, and oxen. The parade moves down Dorion and turns to Southeast Court Avenue at Southeast Fifth Street. It ends at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds.
Normally, through-town traffic has been diverted to Southeast Emigrant Avenue for the length of that road, but part of it has been closed due to the fire at Pendleton Flour Mill. Byram said that the Round-Up Board of Directors is paying Oregon Department of Transportation workers to staff a detour from Southeast Emigrant up the hill at Southeast Third Street.
Image from the Tough Enough to Wear Pink website
