Saratoga News
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Lions, tigers and bears? Nope, but dogs and cats in pet parade
By Michele Leung
What better way to celebrate the dog days of summer than with an old-fashioned pet parade through downtown Saratoga? The Chamber of Commerce and the Saratoga Village Development Council are teaming up and inviting two- and four-footed creatures to participate in the inaugural animal procession in Saratoga.
Merchants and leaders of the Chamber are planning the July 22 pet parade, which will begin at the entrance to the Village on Big Basin Way. Organizers say they hope residents will come out to support the event.
"Saratoga is so pet-friendly. We thought people would love to do a pet parade," said Chris Oakes, president of the Chamber.
The pet parade is the latest in a series of monthly events the merchants have organized in an attempt to draw more traffic to downtown. Organizers say because residents have already shown so much interest in the pet parade, they hope it will become an annual event. More attention given to the downtown area means more shoppers on the streets, they say.
"We're a village, but we live in a big valley," said MaryAnn Serpa, event chairwoman and owner of the Skin Prophecy Boutique. "We're all mom and pop [stores], and we're very blessed to live in this atmosphere, [but] we need support. It's hard for mom and pops and a small village to make it."
Snakes, goats, mice, birds and other furry creatures are welcome to be part of the parade. Registration begins at 3 p.m. at the Village entrance, and at 3:15 p.m. the Rev. Gary Thomas, pastor at Sacred Heart Church, will bless the pets. The parade begins at 3:30 p.m., and the route goes up one side of Big Basin Way to Fourth Street before returning on the other side of the street.
At 4:30 p.m. there will be a pet contest, with such categories as the animal with the longest tail and the one who most resembles its owner.
Merchants will have a sidewalk sale, and vendors will have booths with resources and information from pet grooming to social clubs for dogs. Representatives from the library will have an arts and crafts table for children. There will also be a photographer to take pictures of pets, an artist to sketch animals and a petting zoo for children. Business owners will sell sno cones, hot dogs, watermelon slices and crepes. Crews from KSAR will be on hand to videotape the event.
"We want to build community spirit," Serpa said.
Organizers say the pet parade is an attempt to draw the community together and make residents feel connected to each other.
"We want to make the Village a place where you can gather and chat with friends in a down-home atmosphere," said merchant and SVDC member Marilyn Marchetti. "We want to make all of Saratoga feel they're part of the community."
Past SVDC events have included a St. Patrick's Day party and a treasure hunt downtown. These events, coupled with efforts to beautify the downtown district, are aimed at making the area more attractive to shoppers and tourists. Serpa said in a year she's seen a difference in the activity downtown.
"It's been successful in a small way, but that's what you build on," Serpa said. "We're small, and it's not like we have so much foot traffic that it doesn't matter if people don't come out in the evenings. It does matter."
