Tucson’s annual Rodeo Parade joins a long list of events canceled as a result of the COVID-19 surge in Arizona. 

This marks the first cancellation since World War II.

There has been only one other cancellation in the 95-year history of the parade — in 1945, when the rodeo grounds were used as a training location for military personnel. This time, it was because of a worldwide pandemic. 

Parade spokesman Herb Wagner said organizers were optimistic as COVID numbers were falling in recent months, but 2020 has proved time and time again that things change quickly.

“We were very optimistic that ‘yeah, we can do this and it’s going to happen and things are going to get better.’ But I think we're all realizing that this just isn't going to go away as quickly as we hoped," Wagner said. 

Wagner says despite the cancellation, contingency plans are still being discussed and the parade’s museum is slated to re-open in January with social distancing measures in place.