I absolutely love the Soulard Pet Parade. It is such a fun event for families. People dress up, animals dress up, there is a parade... Every year, I fall in love with so many dogs. The Neapolitan Mastiff remains my favorite though. There was a gorgeous Pit Bull I also liked quite a bit.
This year, Audrey's 4-H club had a fundraiser for their club. They set up a stand at the end of the bar at the corner of 9th and Russell. The girls made homemade dog treats and sold them all day long. What a team they were! They had so much fun and worked well together. They sold out of the dog treats and made over $300. I'm so proud of all of them!
In this picture: Cloe dressed up as Brian (the character from Family Guy), my dad (Harley jacket), Ava (pink coat), Jac (black coat), Sarah (purple boa), and Audrey (brown jacket). My dad comes down every year on his motorcycle and helps out a little. This year, he took Ava around the neighborhood a lot-just the two of them. I look forward to seeing my dad pull up and park his bike on the sidewalk. These little traditions mean so much to me.
Cloe danced around all day long and brought in lots of customers! She was so enthusiastic and fun.
Cloe, Jac, and Audrey selling an assortment of their goods-fun shaped treats, muffins, and meatballs.
The Ace Bronco Bunch Team-Cloe, Sierra, Sarah, and Audrey.
Everyone wants beads!
More parade. Along with beads and costumes, beer is popular too!
Panda puppy!
I love big dogs.
Princess Merci Beaucoup. Her owner gave Ava a much sought after bag of Beggin' Strips. Ava spent the next two hours giving small bites of them to every dog she came in contact with. She did the same exact thing last year. It has become one of my favorite parts of the day.
Cute pooch. I think I was standing in the back of my father in law's truck when I took this.
I love her! Miss., "I'm due in three weeks and came here to walk this baby out." She not only brought her cat to a predominately dog pet parade, she practiced her baby wearing skills with her adorable feline.
I look forward to seeing this lady every year. So freakin' cute!
This man was so sweet. He rescued his miniature grey hound. It lost an eye to disease and is missing part of its jaw. It was shivering a lot while we talked. He keeps him bundled up inside his coat. The guy in the background owns the pit bull that I'm in love with.
The sign leading into the patio of my family's bar. My sister in law, Cory, made it. She is super funny and a very good artist, too. Her design for the Mardi Gras poster contest won a few years ago. She makes one every year and they are always great.
Over the years, the celebration has changed quite a bit. They took the parade out of the neighborhood for one. This drunken, money making event, caught the eye of lots of folks who figured out ways to get a piece of the pie. Some of the fun has definitely been replaced with licensing, permits, paperwork, jumping through hoops... It's sad.
What used to be a good annual event for my family to make up some of the money lost in the slow winter months, has become a free for all for opportunists who want to invade the neighborhood for one day out of the year to sponge off those who are there the other 364 days. I like that my in laws are fed up with the system and are scaling back their operation. They are returning to the old days when things were simpler. I applaud them for not playing the game. We'll see how things turn out next Saturday. Here is to hoping for a profitable, fun day, without ugly incidents.
No comments:
Post a Comment