Cavalcade

Cavalcade. Block VII from the south frieze of the Parthenon, ca. 447–433 BC. (British Museum)

A cavalcade is a procession or parade on horseback, or a mass distance ride by a company of riders.

Sometimes the focus of a cavalcade is participation rather than display and the participants do not wear costumes or ride in formation. Sometimes, a modern cavalcade re-enacts an important historical event and follows a long-distance trail. A cavalcade may also be a pilgrimage.

Ceremonial entry into or departure from a town

Many cavalcades involve ceremonial entries into and departures from towns and villages. Long-distance cavalcades may acquire more riders who join from populated places along its route.

A modern variant is a ceremonial entry to an event, called the "grand entry.” Such processions are traditional in many rodeos and powwows in the American West.

The term cavalcade comes from the classical Latin word caballus, used to describe a strong work horse. This developed into the word caballicare, "to ride horseback," which in Italian became cavalcare. In Spanish the term for cavalcade is cabalgata.