The 85th annual Tucson Rodeo Parade will begin at its usual time, 9 a.m., on Thursday, Feb. 25, but there is a new change that visitors should be aware of before they put on their boots and head down to watch the country's longest non-motorized parade.
This year the parade will be a half mile shorter than usual. Instead of starting at Ajo Way and Park Avenue, the parade will begin at Park Avenue and Fair Street, eight blocks south of Ajo Way. From there, the parade will travel south on Park Avenue, turn west on Irvington Road and then turn north to Sixth Avenue, ending at the rodeo grounds, 4823 S. Sixth Ave.
The parade route was shortened this year because of Tucson Police budget cuts, said Herb Wagner, Tucson Rodeo Parade Committee spokesman.
Wagner said city police are in charge of traffic and crowd control and reassigned to help with the parade during the event.
But this year the city police could only afford to spare 120 officers to aid the Parade Committee, about 80 fewer than last year.
Wagner said the decision to begin at Fair Street instead of Ajo Way was made to maximize the availability of the officers to cover the parade.
"It takes a lot of officers to close Ajo Way," he said. "By keeping Ajo open, it frees up a lot of officers."
They also chose that area because in past years, it has been the least populated by parade-goers since it is harder to reach, Wagner said.
Wagner doesn't believe the change will affect the outcome of the parade, which showcases America's western history by using old-fashioned wagons and buggies.
"The parade reflects different heritages," Wagner said. "It is a mixture of Native American, Mexican American and Anglo cultures all coming together. So I believe it will be as colorful and exciting as ever."
The last time the parade route experienced any changes was in 1991, when it was moved from downtown to its current location.
About 200,000 people are estimated to attend the parade every year, the single largest spectator event in Arizona, Wagner said.
Golf tournaments and other events draw large crowds over days, he said, but the parade draws the largest during a single two-and-a-half hour event.
