KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Every year around March, downtown Knoxville goes to the dogs in the best way possible.
The 17th annual Mardi Growl event returned to Knoxville on March 2. Every year, it brings out a wave of costumed pets. This year, they marched in a parade starting in Old City and traveling to World's Fair Park.
Mardi Growl helps raise money for the Young Williams Animal Center, helping make sure it's able to care for thousands of animals every year.
"Mardi Growl is one of our biggest fundraisers of the year for Young-Williams. It's obviously a celebration of all the animals in Knoxville, specifically the dogs," Young Williams Adoptions Manager Kat Stone said. "We have a fun costume contest, we have a parade, we have lots of booths to hang out at and just celebrate the dog culture in Knoxville since we're the Scruffy City."
People and pets competed in costume contests, with rewards going to the most creative. The parade ended at the festival grounds in World's Fair Park. There were around 100 vendors along with live music, games and all kinds of fun for people and pets alike.
You can check out photos from WBIR's "Kissing Booth" at Mardi Growl below.
WBIR's Kissing Booth at Mardi Growl 2024
Young Williams Animal Center's spay shuttle was at the festival, giving pet owners the chance to get microchips and rabies vaccines for their dogs for $10.
"Young Williams means everything to me because I got Sugar from there she was a foster," Ginger Lyvere Peck said. "My neighbor actually was fostering her and I looked out the window one day and there she was and I was like 'she's mine.'"