Last year I made the joke that it wouldn’t be too much longer before people started staking out their spots with tarps and blankets for the Greeley Stampede’s July 4th Parade a month early. At least in some spots, spots won’t be staked out very early at all this year.
It’s become tradition to head out to the parade route a few days early, and use a tarp, blanket or something like that to save yourself a spot for one of the most attended Fourth of July parades anywhere. The spots seem to be taken earlier and earlier every year.
The University of Northern Colorado, which has property along the route, has had enough. A couple years ago the tradition of using tarps to save spots along the parade route was stopped on their property as large items kill the grass within days because they restrict the water and oxygen the grass gets, the school said. They are again enforcing the ban this year.
However, officials say that if parade watchers wish to reserve spaces with ribbons, tape, rope or string, that is acceptable, but you have to wait until July 2nd to do so.
On the day of the parade you can bring your tarps and blankets, you just have to stay with your items. The following items are what aren’t allowed to be left… Tarps, plastic sheeting, sleeping bags, heavy blankets, and other similar items.
The annual parade begins at 9 a.m. on the 4th. As always it will run north along 10th Avenue from 19th Street and end on 5th Street past Lincoln Park and the Union Colony Civic Center.