07/12/2023
The Parade of Paws will be this Saturday morning, and there are some big changes this year that you’ll need to know about – including the parade route!
In past years the sign-in area has been at the historic rail depot at the foot of Centre Street. But this year, Saturday morning check-in and registration will be in the city lot on South 4th St. between Centre and Ash streets, behind the Green Turtle Tavern.
Check-in and late registration will start a half-hour earlier, at 9:30 a.m., until 10:45 a.m. The parade starts at 11. We urge you to get there early, especially if you haven’t registered in advance.
Also, in past years the parade started at the depot, went east on the sidewalk to Fourth Street, crossed Centre and returned on the sidewalk to the staging area.
“This year the parade itself will go down the middle of Centre Street, so people can see it from both sides,” says NHS Executive Director Dionna Sowers. “It will start at Fourth Street, go west the 4 blocks one-way, and end at the stage where it always ends, and where prizes will be announced. The Fernandina Beach Police will be escorting us.”
What’s not changing is the joyous holiday celebration of pets and their people. Costumes range each year from simple Santa hats to elaborate, themed “floats.”
Pets must be well-behaved, people- and animal-friendly, up to date on their shots, and on a leash or in a “float,” not free-roaming. The parade will go on rain or shine.
You can pre-register now through Friday at the Nassau Humane Society Adoption Center, 639 Airport Road; the NHS Dog Park next door; the NHS Second Chance resale store, 1116 S. 14th St.; Redbones Dog Bakery, 809 S. 8th St.; and Hot Paws Pet Resort, 1008 S. 8th St. Or, you can register on-site Saturday starting at 9:30 a.m. The registration fee is still $20, and proceeds benefit NHS and our “no-kill” animal shelter on Airport Road.
Prizes of gift baskets and goodies donated by Redbones Dog Bakery will be awarded to the top 3 overall entries, with additional awards for Most Original Costume, Looks Most Like Owner, Best Victorian Costume, and a new category this year for non-dog or cat entries. Most of the entrants are dogs, but other pets can participate.
‘“We’ve had goats, donkeys, rabbits, so now there’s a special category for those guys,” Dionna said.
Parade-goers are also invited to attend a “Yappy Hour” event from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Green Turtle, benefiting Friends of Animals in Nassau.
The Parade of Paws is one of our favorite events of the year, so we hope you’ll join in the fun Saturday morning during Dickens on Centre!
