Pioneer Days Parade includes 65 floats

Parade organizers raved about the weather for the 41st annual Pioneer Days Parade held Saturday morning on Main Street.

Even with temperatures in the upper 80s, a breeze kept parade spectators cool, said Parade Chairman John Montano.

The parade featured 65 entries, down from 76 the previous year, but Montano said he couldn’t think of anything that was missing.

“We had everything,” he said. “It went really good.”

The judges’ and crowd’s favorite float was the New Mexico Army National Guard 717th Brigade Support Battalion, complete with a vehicle that could automatically load and unload a humvee. As the monstrous vehicle went through the motions, the crowd watched silently and erupted in applause when the humvee was loaded back onto the vehicle.

Montano said he enjoyed the number of large groups, such as Ray Lee Equipment’s group, which included a handful of large tractors and agriculture equipment.

“I couldn’t pick a favorite,” Montano said. “They were all good.”

Clovis resident Roy Holt said he has attended so many Pioneer Days Parades that he couldn’t count.

“It was great,” he said. “Better than last year, I think.”

Holt enjoyed a small cart hauled by two miniature horses and the fire trucks from Grady.

Holt said he liked the theme of “Celebrating the Fun and Fabulous 70s” and how the entrants expressed the theme. Specifically, he enjoyed the ENMRSH float which was full of waving ENMRSH clients and staff all dressed in tie dye.

“I enjoyed that,” he said. “It’s really great to have a community parade on Main Street.”