Frequently asked questions

Yes. Admission is free. There are no tickets and no charge to line the route along Oliver Street in Williams Lake, British Columbia.

The parade steps off at 10:00 a.m. Entrants assemble and check in at 7:00 a.m., and judging closes at 8:00 a.m. precisely. See the parade day schedule for the full order of the morning.

Entries stage and check in near Comer and 2nd Avenue. The parade starts at the corner of Proctor and 4th Avenue and then travels down Oliver Street through downtown Williams Lake. The route page has the map.

The route fills up well before the 10:00 a.m. step-off. Arriving by 9:00 a.m. gives you a good choice of kerbside space — and earlier if you want a corner position or clear space for a wheelchair or pushchair. Our where to watch guide covers the best vantage points.

The parade steps off at 10:00 a.m., and with more than 140 entries it takes most of the morning to pass any given point on the route. The whole event is over by early afternoon.

Streets on the parade route close for the duration of the parade, so park a block or two off Oliver Street and walk in. Downtown parking fills quickly on parade morning, so allow extra time.

The parade is watched from the pavement along Oliver Street, which is flat and step-free. Corner positions and the area near the start on Proctor give the clearest sightlines for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Dogs are best left at home. The route carries horse groups, buggies and wagons, and loud bands — all of which can unsettle dogs in a crowd.

The parade goes ahead in most weather. Bring a rain jacket rather than an umbrella, which blocks the view of the people behind you.

Yes, and the committee welcomes parade photographs — see the photo gallery. Stay behind the kerb line and never step onto the route in front of horses or moving entries.

Print both pages of the entry form — page 1 and page 2 — complete and sign them, then return them to the Williams Lake Visitor Information Centre at 1148 South Broadway, Williams Lake, BC. Out-of-town entrants may fax both copies to (250) 398-7414. Full details are on the participant information page.

Registration is $10.00 payable upon registration. An undecorated float is $25.00, and logging trucks, stock cars and commercial vehicles are $100.00. Most other categories carry no fee.

The entry deadline is July 1. Entries that want to be judged must be in position before judging closes at 8:00 a.m. precisely on parade morning.

Two rules matter most: a forward motion must be maintained at all times, with no stopping to perform en route; and no throwing candy, balloons or objects from your entry. If an entry interferes with the flow of the parade, the Parade Marshal reserves the right to remove it. The full rules and disclaimer are on page 2 of the entry form.

Nearly 60 volunteers work on parade day, and sponsorship is available at platinum, gold, silver and bronze levels. See the sponsorship page or contact parade chairman Ward Stangoe on (250) 398-2902.

The parade is organised by the Williams Lake Stampede Parade Society, a volunteer committee of directors based in Williams Lake, British Columbia. Read more about the society or meet the committee.

The parade grew out of a 1919 picnic and day of cowboy sports held when the Pacific Great Eastern Railway reached the Williams Lake valley, and it became the first official Williams Lake Stampede parade the following year. It has run every year since, apart from a wartime suspension between 1939 and 1947. See the parade history.

More than 140 entries take part each year, judged across seven classifications: equine, floats, bands, youth, automotive, mascots and clowns, and best theme entry.

Contact the committee on (250) 398-2902, email ward@freightlinerwl.com, or use the details on the contact page.