The Umatilla County Fair Kick-Off Parade is set to roll Saturday, Aug. 3, 6:30 p.m. on a new parade route in Hermiston.

The new route came at the request of the Hermiston Police Department to improve safety for the parade.

According to the announcement from the fair, HPD expressed concerns regarding the number of officers needed to safely cover the necessary traffic zones during the parade.

The new route reduces the number of officers needed by half, which will free up other officers to cover their regular areas throughout the city and cut down on the number of officers working on overtime.

According to the map of the new route, the parade will start on West Highland Avenue near Hermiston High School, turn north onto South First Street/Highway 395, turn east on Main Street, north again on Northeast Third Street, then west onto Gladys Avenue and end at Ruty’s Restaurant, 130 W. Hermiston Ave.

Hermiston Police Chief Jason Edmiston in a statement said with the department’s staff levels for the last three years, it was time to change the route.

“Nobody likes change and we get it,” according to Edmiston, “but no cop enjoys responding to avoidable crashes where children are injured.”

Parade awards

Parade entries can win awards for the following:

• Overall best entry — Sweepstakes Award

• Theme award — “A Blue Ribbon Future”

• Best float

• Best equestrian

• Best motorized

• Best royalty

• Best dance

• Best bands & music

• Best nonfloat