Rockaway Dog Parade This Saturday!
By Dan Guarino
Tails will be wagging this Saturday, September 14, as the 3rd Annual Rockaway Dog Parade gets ready to “launch an extraordinary day of fun.”
“Each year, the parade keeps growing,” says organizer Dana Humphrey, “with 150 people (plus their pets) the first year, and 200 the second. We’re hoping at least for 250 this year. Tell your friends, spread the word, and let’s get all the dogs out to the boardwalk!”
Starting at 11 a.m., pups large and small and their people will gather at Beach 108th Street and the boardwalk, near the hockey rink.
Putting its best paw forward around 11:30 a.m., the assembled mass of dogs and people will proceed up the ramp and onto the boardwalk, where they will then march to Beach 94th Street. There judges will review all entries, the most colorful costumed contestants will be announced, and prizes will be awarded. The event will conclude with a Pet Fair featuring a variety of activities and vendors at the open-air Beach 94th Street Amphitheater and plaza just off the boardwalk ‘til about 1 p.m.
Tickets are $5 per dog, with all proceeds going to benefit this year’s parade partner, the non-profit Allied Rockaway Foundation for Animal Recreation and Fitness (ARF-ARF). Attending humans are free. ARF-ARF’s website states it “provides a healthy resource to foster the fitness and social growth of dogs and their owners.” ARF-ARF “acts as caretakers of dog parks in the Rockaways,” and was instrumental in creating the Rockaway Freeway Dog Park, Shorefront Dog Run, and other such canine-friendly areas. Tickets can be purchased directly from ARF-ARF at www.arf-arfrockaway.org/news1.
Planners note the event day will take an “out of this world” turn, as “this year’s parade promises an intergalactic adventure with its ‘Outer Space’ theme, inviting all furry friends and their families to join in the cosmic celebration!” Contestants are encouraged to shoot for the stars as they and owners go where no dog has gone before in conjuring up evermore clever and creative costumes.
The Rockaway Dog Parade even has a fun “dogs in outer space” themed promotional video, featuring Humphrey with helmet and space suit. “We’re hoping to see some amazingly dressed dogs as aliens … and maybe even some pugs as ‘Men in Black,’” she says. To see the full video on Dana Humphrey’s YouTube channel, click on the “3rd Annual Rockaway Dog Parade.”
This year’s grand prize will be a one-year membership to Trusted House Sitters, which connects homeowners and their pets with reliable house and pet sitters in their area. First, second and third prizes will include gift certificates to Hot Yoga Rockaway Beach on Beach 116th Street. Also, the “first 100 people receive a tree planted in their dog’s name from Trees for Pets.”
Additionally Green Coast Pet will provide the first 100 dogs with “peanut butter flavored 90 mg CBD chews, which retail for $19.99, and Hemp+Superblend chews. Winners and participants will also enjoy dog treats from Connor’s Canine Cookies, Jones Natural Dog Chews, and Charlee Bear Dog Treats.”
Parade participants will also receive coupons and cupcakes from The Bear & The Rat, which makes dog ice cream, pet food toppers, and cakes specially formulated for pets.
Humphrey notes, “We are thrilled to announce our esteemed panel of judges for this stellar event.” This will include Rockaway resident “Russel Siegel, ‘The Wallpaper Artist,’ known for his creative and unique artistic expressions. Lisa Villetto, a beloved local personality with a passion for pets and community events, and Eric McManus from ‘Sal y Lima’ (taco and tequila bar) at Beach 90th Street —opening soon! He’s a well-known figure in the Rockaway community and advocate for local causes.”
“This year’s parade will benefit our charity partner ARF-ARF, a dedicated organization committed to improving the lives of animals in need. We invite the community to support this worthy cause while enjoying a day filled with creativity, fun, and furry friends,” Humphrey says.
“Since 2007, I have been running a public relations firm called Whitegate PR and we specialized in the pet industry. So I’ve been involved with planning pet events for really long time.” After moving to Rockaway, she decided she “wanted to create a parade that was non-political to give people a chance to bond together about their dogs.”
“Dogs,” she explains, “provide such unconditional love, and they’re such good energy. And we have such a beautiful boardwalk here in Rockaway. It’s a perfect chance to get everybody together for some end of summer fun with some prizes and some goodie bags.
“At the end of the parade, we have the judges who are positioned in the lifeguard chairs where each dog gets to announce themselves on the microphone and tell us who they are and what their life is like, and it’s a great chance for everyone to meet all the dogs and see their fun outfits.”
The Pet Fair at 94th Street will also include local supporter and Rockaway family business Connor’s Canine Cookies, which has been “with us since year one. They always provide a beautiful gift basket for the winners as well as have cookies for sale for dogs. We will have dog food samples and various community partners there to give tasters and say hello,” Humphrey says.
The parade this year will coincide with, and pass through, the RISE Rockaway Honeyworks & NYC Honey Fest on the Boardwalk at Beach 106th Street. Humphrey and company have invited any interested vendors there to contact her if they would like to have a table at the Pet Fair.
As in the past, this year’s Annual Rockaway Dog Parade promises to be a colorful, fun and friendly outing for all as hundreds of dogs and people gather together and march down the boardwalk.
Humphrey and ARF-ARF invite all to “join us for an unforgettable day as we celebrate our pets and our community under the theme of ‘Outer Space.’ Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of an extraordinary parade and support a great cause!”
Photos by Dan Guarino.
