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News
News
The U.P. Championship Rodeo is back in town July 12 and 13; meaning the annual Wild West Parade will draw spectators to the Iron River streets to watch the numerous horseback riders, local businesses and community organizations go by. Several organizations from around the Midwest will be among the entries for this year’s parade. Local West Side Veteran’s Honor Guard, local law enforcement, ILL ROCK Rhythm & Groove Ensemble, Superior Pipes & Drums, Andy the Armadillo- Texas Roadhouse Marquette, Shriner Indy
Cars and Clowns, and MOTOR Middle School Marching Band will be some of the many entries at this year’s parade.
The Local West Side Veteran’s Honor Guard will be leading the parade and presenting the nation’s colors at each rodeo performance. Texas Roadhouse- Marquette’s Andy the Armadillo will be passing out novelties along the parade route. MOTOR Middle School Marching band is comprised of young musicians from across the Upper Peninsula and Northeast Wisconsin. After a three-day camp the MOTOR Band learns their music and the fundamentals of marching. ILL ROCK Rhythm & Groove Ensemble is a non-profit marching arts program with the Youth Against Violence Organization (YAVO) serving youth in Rock and Winnebago counties. YAVO was founded at a time of grief in 1991 after a Rockford teenager, Asha, was killed in broad daylight. YAVO’s mission is “To Educate, Entertain and Inspire… Encouraging youth through performing arts to strive for excellence, to develop and improve essential creative skills, and to grow into successful and productive citizens and leaders in our society”. The Upper Peninsula’s first bagpipe band, Superior Pipes & Drums, was founded in 2005 and has members ranging from 10 to over 80-year-old! Mainly based in Marquette and Houghton counties, Superior Pipes & Drums provide members the opportunity to learn bagpipes along with highland drumming and dancing at no cost. Both ILL ROCK and Superior Pipe & Drums will be providing post-parade entertainment at the Iron River City Hall.
The U.P. Championship Rodeo Board would like to thank and acknowledge the many individuals and organizations that assist with the Wild West Parade. Global Response is the parade sponsor and manages the parade registration. Iron County Armory, Pat and Janet Hebert, provide the registration area. Parade line-up is organized by the Caspian-Gaastra Fire Department. The West Iron County Fire Department provides security along the parade route. The flatbed trailer for our parade judges is provided by Muff-Ex & Repair.
Kick off for the 2024 Wild West Parade is at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at the intersection of Franklin and 3rd Street, goes south to Adams Street, east to 1st Street, south to Genesee Street and west to 7th Street.
If you would like to be among the entries for this year’s parade you can sign up Saturday, July 13 at the Iron County Armory or pre-register by emailing the registration application to info@uprodeo.com.