Beloved beasts — and their people — to get all gussied up for Saturday’s Pet Parade
Some of South Sound’s beloved beasts, beautiful and otherwise, will take to the streets on Saturday morning, strutting their stuff in the 88th annual Pet Parade.
They’ll be wearing costumes and pulling floats inspired by the theme “Beauties & Beasts.”
Despite the name, the parade — hosted by The Olympian — is at least as much about children as pets. Only those 16 and younger are allowed to enter the costume contests, and no pet is necessary to win a prize, since categories include wheels (most often decorated bikes), floats and impersonations.
Last year, more than 800 contestants showed up, with furred and feathered friends including rabbits, chickens, guinea pigs and a pig — and, of course, lots of dogs and cats.
Even one of the judges is a young person — 12-year-old JamiEllen “Jelly” LeDuc of Tumwater, who drew the image for this year’s poster and T-shirt. Her design depicts two canines — one beauty and one beast — back to back.
“We’ll all be there watching, and we ordered several T-shirts,” Tara McNamara, Jelly’s mom, said in a phone interview this week. “We’ll probably have a lot of family there to see the artwork.”
Jelly, who’ll soon begin seventh grade at Tumwater Middle School, hopes to become an artist. “I really like art”, she said. “It’s a nice way to express yourself.
“I have a lot on my mind,” she added, “and it’s very soothing and awesome.”
This isn’t the first time Jelly has created an image for the parade. “I entered a couple of years ago,” she said. “I forgot to do it last year. Ever since the contest last year, I’ve been reminding myself to enter.”
Jelly first participated in the Pet Parade in 2005, when the theme was “Splish Splash, I Was Taking a Bath,” but she’s too young to remember.
“My mom actually made a bathtub out of a wagon, and Jelly was in the bathtub in a little bathrobe,” McNamara said. Also part of the entry were several other family members and two dogs, a poodle and a border collie.
Jelly’s family has been participating in the Pet Parade for four generations. McNamara’s grandparents, Jim and Pat McNamara, participated in the 1960s along with their children.
“My grandpa used to make big floats,” Tara McNamara said. “One year, he welded together three bikes.”
The Olympian’s Pet Parade
What: Pets and kids are at the center of the 88th annual parade, which features dressed up animals, creative floats and decorated bikes.
When: Marchers begin lining up at 8 a.m. Saturday; judging begins at 8:30; and the parade starts at 10 a.m.
Where: Competition at Heritage Park, 330 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia. Parade ends at Sylvester Park, 615 Washington St. SE, with free ice cream and goodie bags.
Admission: Free; donations of unopened cans and bags of pet food for Concern for Animals are accepted.
Rules: The parade is open to children 16 and younger. No motorized or battery-operated vehicles are allowed, except those assisting disabled persons. Animals must be under control at all times. Participants are asked to bring water for pets and to pick up after them. No commercial entries or politicking are allowed.
Categories for judging: Pets, wheels, impersonations, big dogs, small dogs and floats
More information: 360-754-5462, theolympian.com
Also: The parade is open to any kind of pet animal, including horses and llamas.
This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 7:28 AM with the headline "Beloved beasts — and their people — to get all gussied up for Saturday’s Pet Parade."