Bend’s ‘Pet Parade’ is a no-go (again), but C.O.’s tourist season still shapes up to be a busy one
(Update: Adding video, comment from Bend hotel, Park and Rec)
'Not feasible to provide a safe, enjoyable community event of this size'
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Bend Park and Recreation District's Julie Brown had to announce some disappointing news Monday.
"The Bend Park and Recreation District has made the difficult decision to cancel the pet parade and old fashion show for this year," the district’s community relations manager told NewsChannel 21 on Monday.
It's the second cancellation in a row, and comes just as things are starting to open up in Central Oregon. Deschutes county moved to lower risk last Friday.
The Fourth of July events typically draw between 6,000-8,000 participants and spectators, Brown said.
"It just feels like that would too big of a community event for us to hold in early July," she added.
How does such cancellations leave the prospects for summer tourism?
Despite events like the Pet Parade (and the Sisters Rodeo) being canceled (while others, like the Sisters Quilt Show, carry on), Central Oregon hotels are preparing for lots of check-ins.
Eric Rock, general manager of the new Element by Westin in downtown Bend, said the hotel only has about 10 of 112 rooms still open for Memorial Day weekend.
"I foresee the occupancies coming back up to the 2019 levels this year," he said.
That could be as high as 90 percent, Rock said, who has worked for most of the last 32 years in Bend hotels.
Rock says he's not concerned that the cancellation of the parade will hurt bookings.
"You see a little bit of travel with that, but more of it is home-based," Rock said.
And for Pet Parade fans, fear not about the event's future.
"Our hope that this is the last time we have to cancel these events, and that we will be back in action in 2022," Brown said.
Here's the full news release from Bend Park and Recreation District:
The Bend Park and Recreation District announced Monday it has canceled the July 4th Pet Parade and Old-Fashioned Festival in Drake Park for the second straight year.
"While the public health situation is improving, district leaders concluded it is not feasible to provide a safe and enjoyable community event of this size," the announcement said.
In recent years, the pet parade and festival have been attended by 6,000 to 8,000 participants and spectators, "and managing a large event in early July would pose challenges," the park district said.
“Community health and safety are our top concerns, as we do our part to evaluate activities that have been put on hold during the pandemic,” said Don Horton, the park district's executive director. “Our staff resources are focused on providing higher-priority services to residents, and those needs in parks, trails and recreation facilities need to come first this summer.”
The Pet Parade is an Oregon Heritage Event, dating back to 1932. Before the current pandemic’s back-to-back cancellations, the only other year the parade did not take place was 1943, during World War II.
“We look forward to resuming these annual traditions in 2022,” added Horton. “For this year, we ask for understanding with the cancellation.”
For community members seeking July 4th celebration activities, family swim will be offered at Juniper Swim & Fitness Center, roller skating will occur at the Pavilion, and the parks and trails will be open and ready for families and individuals to enjoy as part of the holiday.
