Start time for Veterans Day parade in Colorado Springs pushed back by weather

Heavy snowfall has led to a change of plans for Colorado Springs' annual Veterans Day parade.

Parade organizer and co-chair John O'Donnell announced the change Thursday afternoon. Moving the In Their Honor Veterans Day Parade back from 11 a.m. to noon is meant to buy extra time to clear out snow from the Tejon Street route after a lingering winter weather storm that's brought several inches of snow to the Pikes Peak region.

The forecast from the National Weather Service in Pueblo calls for snow to end and temperatures to rise by Saturday morning.

"We wanted to give our streets crew time enough to make sure they get done what they'd like to get done, and then we want Mother Nature to work her fine hand," O'Donnell said.

O'Donnell said a few of the planned 115 parade entries had called Thursday saying they might not be able to participate, but he expected the vast majority to march at noon. O'Donnell aimed for a "better than modest" audience turnout of thousands of people bundled up to watch along the parade route.

O'Donnell and Colorado International Events took over operations of the Veterans Day Parade in October shortly after it was announced as canceled because of low participation. O'Donnell originally managed the parade from 1993 to 1999.

City Council President Randy Helms and O'Donnell said there was no plan for another delay or cancellation.

Also on Thursday, the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce announced that the city's Veterans Day Parade was being moved to Nov. 16 from Saturday because of health and safety concerns associated with the winter-like weather.