However, rain forecast for later this week and a predicted wet February have given them hope the fire risk in the Middlemarch area will decrease.
Organiser Terry Davis said last week's hot days and warm winds made the fire risk critical and the welfare of the land and those whose livelihoods depended on it had to be of paramount concern.
Martin Anderson, chairman of the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust, which runs the cavalcade, said they did not want to alarm anyone.
''As far as we are concerned, it's still on.''
The event had only been cancelled once in its 23 years, during dry conditions in 1999 when major grass fires threatened Alexandra.
Mr Davis said although a fire had never been caused by the Cavalcade, they were still cautious.
There were concerns about steel horseshoes striking rocks and causing sparks in dry grass, even though it had not happened before.
Mr Anderson said organisers would be ''devastated'' if the event caused a fire.
''Our first concern is for the landowners and their land and the second for the safety and welfare of our participants.''
As Mr Davis spoke to the Otago Daily Times yesterday afternoon near Cromwell, rain began to fall in what he hoped was a sign of the weather to come.
''... the long range forecast for February is considerably wetter and cooler than January, so planning is still under way for the cavalcade to proceed as expected.
''However, as with every year we will be consulting with trail bosses and landowners. We expect the situation to be clear by the start of next week.''
The MetService rural forecast until Saturday shows cloud and rain showers from Tuesday onwards, with daily high temperatures between 15degC and 22degC.
Some rain fell in the region over the weekend, but Maniototo farmers said it was not enough. This year's cavalcade begins on February 21 and finishes in Outram on February 28. So far, about 440 people have registered to take part.
