It lasted a century, but for the first time ever, the parade at the Falkland Stampede will not go ahead this year.

Organizers say it’s getting harder and harder to get volunteers to step up.

“We had a lot of volunteers for the 100th and then this year a lot of people stepped back,” said Stampede Manager Melissa Churchill, noting highway permits are another issue.

“It’s still possible for us to get the highway permit, but we do have a 30-minute limit which is pretty hard for us to stay in to get everybody to the grounds, out of the grounds and back down the highway within 30 minutes.”

It’s always been a 30-minute window on the highway, noted Churchill, and given the location of the rodeo grounds, they have to cross the highway.

There however is a faint glimmer of hope.

“Unless there is a miracle person who comes forward to take over the entire parade, I would say that we are definitely not having a parade for the 101st,” she added. “It is disappointing.”

On a more positive note, Churchill says the Falkland Stampede will still take place over the May Long weekend with the rodeo and other events, as planned.

(Photo: Falkland Stampede)