KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Every year, colorful dogs and their owners march in a parade and festival that takes place in downtown Knoxville.
The annual Mardi Growl parade serves as a fundraiser for the Young-Williams Animal Center and to raise awareness for domestic animal issues.
The parade will take place on March 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m at Willow Avenue, coming to an end at Market Square.
There are many contests you and your best friend can enter, such as best costume, best dog couple, most unique mixed breed, and other fun contests.
If you and your pet want to compete in a contest, you don't need to register! There will be volunteers with signs. To win, you walk behind the volunteer with the contest you want to compete in for the whole parade.
The winners of the competitions will be announced at 12:30 p.m. at Market Square.
Registration is $15 and includes a goody bag. Day-of registration is $20 and can be done at the registration booth at Willow Avenue, which is open on Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
The goody bags are available to every registered dog, which can be picked up on Wednesday, Feb. 27 and the 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Young-Williams Animal Center.
Parking is available at all Knoxville city parking garages, which is free on weekends, as well as available street parking.
There will be vendors during the course of the parade, and t-shirts will be available at $15 per shirt at the registration tent as well as at Young-Williams' booth.
In addition, there will be adoptable dogs available throughout the course of the parade, with rabies vaccines and microchips available for your pets.
The Spay Shuttle in Market Square will do both rabies vaccines and microchips for $10 each, and they are available to schedule spay and neuter surgeries offsite. The Spay Shuttle will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For information on additional vendors and sponsors, visit https://mardigrowl.org/info/
