The theme song for this year’s Clovis Rodeo Parade might well have been a song from the movie ‘Funny Girl’ entitled ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’, as rain soaked Clovis on April 25.
Although the rains came, they didn’t dampen enthusiasm for the 101st Annual Clovis Rodeo Parade. Smaller in size than previous years, there were nevertheless still at least 150 floats.
John Marr the announcer for the parade expressed his belief that the parade’s good turnout was an indication of the loyalty of Clovis residents to the ‘Clovis Way of Life’. This refers to an appreciation people have here for the city’s western heritage, strong families, and community spirit.
Viewed as the cornerstone of the annual Clovis Rodeo, the first parade was organized by the Clovis Women’s Club in 1914. The parade is attended by residents throughout the region, even those with little interest in the rodeo itself, who enjoy coming to the city’s huge parade. The numerous marching bands that normally entertain the crowds between blocks of floats were unable to perform due to rain.
The Clovis Rodeo Parade takes place each year on the fourth Saturday in April. A liberal use of advertisements supplied to local merchants by a flyer printing service is one way of reminding parade attendees of other areas of Clovis that they may wish to explore.
