2013 Dairy Days Parade Canceled due to Construction
Meridian, ID - (March 27, 2013) – Organizers of the Meridian Dairy Days Parade announced they are canceling this summer’s parade because of construction on the Meridian Split Corridor Project and corresponding closure of Meridian Road. The Meridian Dairy Board announced its decision during Tuesday night’s Meridian City Council meeting. The Board, Meridian City Council and Ada County Highway District worked together over the past month to try and find an alternate route for this summer’s parade, but in the end a temporary route to accommodate traffic, parade floats and parade-goers was not found.

“This was a very difficult decision for us to make,” said Hans Bruijn, President of the Meridian Dairy Board. “The last thing we wanted to do was cancel the parade but after speaking with everyone involved we realized there were too many challenges and safety concerns surrounding the parade.”

The Dairy Board and City Council both were concerned construction on Meridian Road would make it difficult for parade watchers to safely get to Main Street, the parade’s traditional route. Meridian’s Fire and Police Departments were also concerned that having two main roads in downtown Meridian closed would make it difficult to respond to a potential emergency in the area during the parade.

The Meridian Dairy Board told the City Council the parade will be back in 2014 and it will be bigger and better than ever.

“The Dairy Days Parade is a community tradition,” said Mayor Tammy de Weerd. “Everyone is disappointed we won’t have a parade this summer, including me and the other Council members. We know how much this parade means to Meridian and we will do all we can to help the Dairy Board bring the parade back to downtown Meridian in 2014.”

All the other events during Dairy Days will go on as planned, including the Princess pageant, Dairy Days Racing, pancake feed, a brand new carnival, activities in Storey Park and the livestock show on Saturday. Dairy Days will run from June 18 through June 22. For detailed event information please visit www.dairydays.org.