The Vigilante parade is a cherished tradition in Helena, MT. It is going to celebrate its 101st anniversary this year. The parade is scheduled for Friday, May 2 at noon and will take place in downtown Helena.  

The City’s Public Safety Officials have been discussing with the Helena Public School District about a potential change of route for the Vigilante Parade. City manager Tim Burton informed commissioners at a meeting that there is serious consideration to change the parade route. They planned on moving it from Last Chance Gulch to Cruise Ave.  

The change in route was not requested from Helena Public Schools but from safety officials, because of the size of vehicles in the parade, such as semi-trucks, it could be incredibly challenging to drive these vehicles through the walking mall.  

The city also got feedback from small businesses requesting a change in the route. This feedback was mainly from the businesses surrounded by the route rather than the businesses on the main route, for the businesses on the main route the vigilante parade is a great way to increase customers. Although, for the businesses surrounded by the route it causes lots of traffic making it difficult for customers to enter their buildings.  

The City’s Public Safety Officials decided to keep the parade route as it has been, on the walking mall. Although, they have implemented multiple new safety measures to make the event as safe as possible. Some new safety measures include limited vehicle and trailer size, spacing vehicles on the walking mall, intersection of 6th avenue and last chance gulch will be unobstructed, and barrier placement on the walking mall.