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DENVER — The National Western Stock Show canceled the annual Stock Show Parade on Tuesday in anticipation of a storm that is expected to bring snow and bitter cold temperatures to downtown Denver.

The parade down 17th Street was scheduled to begin at noon Thursday. It will not be rescheduled.

The temperature in Denver is expected to top out at 8 degrees on Thursday with up to 8 inches of snow possible.

“After several hours of gathering facts, we have decided to cancel the parade,” stock show president and CEO Paul Andrews said. “The risk of animal injury and injury to people is far too great with the 4 to 8 inches of snow predicted and 6 degree temperatures.”

The annual parade began in 1984. There has been one other cancellation because of weather, but Andrews didn’t know when that way.

The Broncos’ mascot, an Arabian gelding named Thunder, was to be the parade grand marshal. Thunder will act as grand marshal in 2018.

The annual parade barbecue lunch will still take place from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the atrium of the Wells Fargo Building at 17th Street and Broadway.

The 16-day National Western Stock Show begins Saturday and goes until Jan. 22.