By Steve Hubrecht

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The annual parade of costumed horses and riders in Invermere is set to take place once again this coming weekend.

This is the third edition of the event, but it has a new name this time: the Dora Porcina Memorial Parade. 

The parade, which falls a few weeks before Halloween, features about a dozen or more local residents and horses, with both people and equines dressed up creatively. They ride throughout downtown Invermere, visiting local seniors’ homes as well as the hospital.

“We started it during the (COVID-19) pandemic, as something for the seniors. Most of them were stuck inside and there wasn’t too much they could do. We wanted to do something fun for them,” explained Neveah Oddy, this year’s parade organizer. The pandemic has long since subsided, but the parade has continued.

One of the seniors who greatly enjoyed the first horse parade was Dora Porcina, who was living in Columbia Garden Village and who was Neveah’s great-grandmother. Porcina passed away last November and Neveah and other organizers wanted to honour her by naming the parade after her.

This year’s version of the parade will also double as a fundraiser for exercise equipment for local senior’s homes.

“We wanted to give something back,” said Neveah.

The parade is on Saturday, Oct. 14. Riders and horses will gather at the Invermere fire hall at about noon. At 1 p.m. the parade will begin, with participants cantering up to Mount Nelson Place, then through the middle of town over to Columbia Garden Village, Ivy House and the Invermere hospital.

The costumes add an extra touch, said Neveah. Last year she dressed her horse up as a bull and herself as a bull rider. 

“There’s been all kinds of costumes” said Neveah. “Some of the people in the street, they will see us, stop and get out of their cars and start taking photos. One year when we went by the hospital, the weather was really great, and several patients were actually rolled out of the hospital on their beds to watch.”

Aside from raising funds and honouring Porcina, the parade is worthwhile for the sheer joy it brings to observers and participants alike, outlined Neveah.

“I just like seeing how happy it makes everyone. It’s a pretty unique experience to dress your horse up and then ride through town and a lot of fun too,” she said.

Entry is by donation. Registration is at the Invermere fire hall at noon on Oct. 14. For updates check out the Heart and Soul Medicine Horse Facebook page.