- Ute Stampede Mammoth Parade might be low on entries this year
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By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Mammoth Parade of the Ute Stampede will be short on bands unless some groups still answer the invitations sent to them by the parade committee chair.
“That could still happen,” said Carolyn Ford, who serves as chairman. “Last year one entry just showed up on the day of the parade.”
In February, she said, she sent out personal letters requesting bands participate. To date, only Juab High School Band had responded.
Because of the weak economy, she had explained to bands that they would be getting half price tickets to the Ute Stampede, if they desired them.
Ford said that 95 invitations had been sent requesting that those receiving the invitations participate in the parade by entering a float or some type of entry.
A few more bands and entry possibilities had been suggested by committee members. Those invitations would still be sent.
“Last year we had 75 entries in the parade,” said Ford. “This year, at present, we have 45.”
It is now late June and the Ute Stampede is in early July so those who want to participate need to be making the decision to enter.
“There are a few new businesses that are doing things,” she said.
She said it was hoped that families would do as they did at the Christmas Festival Parade and put together something from their family to have in the parade.
“We are encouraging families to do floats,” said Ford.
There was a color guard, the fire engine, the grand marshal at the beginning of the parade.
One thing that was handled differently this year, she said, was the selection of the grand marshal. This year she had put an item in the newspaper requesting nominations for the honor.
The committee then reviewed the nominations and made the final selection. That was much better.
“We thought that it was better because it allows anonymous entries,” said John Ford, who is also on the committee.
Robert Painter, council member, said he thought that it was a good idea to have such nominations and thought it would be good to continue the practice.
It had been decided, said C. Ford, to not use the expensive banners notifying parade watchers of prize winners. That was done because most of the banners were not returned following last year’s parade.
This year, she said, there will be large posters on the sides of prize-winning floats.
The Lion’s Club will provide bottled water for parade participants, she said, and the Kiwanis Club will mark the parade route.
There will be three areas along the route where the parade entries will be announced and runners will keep announcers abreast of the information to be presented as it is updated.
“The Ute Stampeded Committee will also give cash prizes for the entries they judge as meeting their criteria,” said C. Ford. “There will be three such prizes of $200 each.”
Mark Jones, mayor, said the city was presenting plaques not cash awards for the entries selected as award winners. He wondered if that would cause some heartburn since the Stampede Committee was paying cash and the city was giving plaques.
Jones thanked the Fords for heading the committee and for doing the necessary work to have a great parade in celebration of the Ute Stampede’s 75 anniversary.
He also encouraged families to step up and participate by doing as they had done at Christmas which, he said, made that parade and great success.
“By the way,” said Jones, “here is the city’s entry.”
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