Bark! Bark! It’s Time For The Third Annual Spooky Pooch Parade! By Shannon Strachan
On October 16, Detroit Avenue in downtown Lakewood will be alive with spooky pooches and their proud spooky owners. The parade will begin at St. Charles Avenue and march down to Lakewood Public Library, then back to St. Charles Green for awards and festivities. Judging will take place in front of Panera Bread with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards given for Spookiest Pooch, Best Dog & Child, Best Dog & Adult, Best Non-Motorized Float and Best of Show.
Last year, the event attracted over 200 dogs, 500 owners and 2,000 viewers. No one left without a smile, so be sure to put October 16 on your family calendar and join us (with or without your dog) for a great time. To register to walk in the parade, go to downtownlakewood.org. Pre-registration is $10.00 and day-of registration is $15.00.
Other pet-related activities include the Spooky Pooch Raffle, featuring various raffle baskets and the grand prize, sponsored by Pet’ General Store, dog food for a year! Raffle tickets will be available for purchase from Pet’s General Store and Pet-tique beginning in mid-September, as well as the day of the event. Tickets will be $1 each or $5 for six.
The Second Annual Spooky Pooch Coloring Contest will also take place this year. The coloring page may be downloaded from the website or you may pick it up at various places around town, including both branches of the Lakewood Public Library and Pet’s General Store. 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes will be awarded for ages 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. All entries must be received by October 14, 2010.
Don’t forget, there will also be vendors of dog-related products and services as well as rescue groups, so be sure to come before the parade or stay after the parade to check out the vendors. To join Lakewood Hospital, Panera Bread, Pawsitive Influence and the City of Lakewood as a sponsor, or if you would like to have a table at the event, go to downtownlakewood.org for an application or call 216-521-0655.
LakewoodAlive is a 501(c)(3) economic development organization. Downtown Lakewood, a program of LakewoodAlive, is focused on the revitalization of Lakewood’s historic downtown district. All proceeds from the Spooky Pooch Parade benefit downtown revitalization and the Lakewood Animal Shelter.