Windsor Harvest Festival to increase safety 1 year after child died in parade accident

Sady Swanson
The Coloradoan

One year after tragedy struck at the Windsor Harvest Festival parade, town officials are making changes they hope will make the annual tradition safer. 

The 98th annual Labor Day festival runs Saturday through Labor Day, and the final day will kick off a parade. But it will also be a reminder of a heartbreaking loss for the tight-knit community — the death of 8-year-old Brycen Zerby during last year’s parade.

Brycen fell while either walking next to or riding on his church's float and was run over by the trailer, according to the police report. 

The incident shocked the community and caused Colorado State University to change its Homecoming Parade safety guidelines last October. The Fort Collins Downtown Business Association cited "recent tragedies at parades and gatherings" as a reason it canceled the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade earlier this year.

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And now, as the Windsor community prepares for the first anniversary of Brycen's death, they're also taking steps to up their safety regulations. 

"This accident caused town officials, festival organizers and the Windsor Police Department to take a closer look at participation rules," town officials said in an email.

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The amended guidelines include: 

► No one is allowed to get on and off the float once the float has crossed the start line.

► Gymnastics participants are not allowed to perform while the vehicle or float are moving.

► All sitting float riders must remain seated and use seat belts, if available. 

► All standing float riders must have something available to support their body, including hand holds and rails.

► No one is allowed to ride on the edge of a float. Any float riders with riders or items hanging over the edge before or during the parade will be subject to removal.

► All children under 16 years old riding a bicycle, roller skates, roller blades scooters or other similar items are required to wear safety equipment, including a helmet, at all times.

► Towed floats must have safety chains attached to the towing vehicle.

► Float riders are not allowed to throw candy or other items from the float to spectators. Candy and other items may be distributed to the crowd by hand from parade participants walking alongside the float.

► Distribution buckets or containers cannot be refilled from the moving float or vehicle. If refilling smaller containers, parade organizers recommend using a wagon to carry extra candy or other items.

You can see all of the parade requirements at www.windsorharvestfest.com/parade.

Town officials are also seeking volunteers to be parade marshals and help monitor the route to ensure float participants are complying to the rules. Those interested can sign up to volunteer at windsorgov.com/1204/Windsor-Harvest-Festival.

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Windsor Harvest Festival event highlights

►Hot air balloon launches: 6:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday; Eastman Park at 7th Street and Eastman Park Drive; Weather permitting. 

► All-Town BBQ, live music and fireworks: $5 for barbecue, 4:30-6:30 p.m., music at 6:30-9 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m., Boardwalk Park/Windsor Lake

► Vendors, beer garden, family-friendly activities and live music: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Windsor's Main Park, 300 Locust St. 

► Cruise-In Car Show: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Eastman Park

► Outdoor movie night: 8 p.m. Sunday, Eastman Park

► Doggie Dip: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Chimney Park Pool, 425 Chimney Park Drive, $5 per dog. Dogs must be fully vaccinated to go for swim.

Parade: 9 a.m. Monday, route goes west on Walnut to Seventh Street, then south on Seventh Street to Eastman Park Drive

For a full list of events, visit www.windsorharvestfest.com/schedule.

Sady Swanson covers crime, courts, public safety and more throughout Northern Colorado. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Support our work and local journalism with a digital subscription at Coloradoan.com/subscribe.