TOO CUTE! Burlingame Pet Parade Pictures, Recap

BURLINGAME, CA – More than 1,800 spectators and 600 participants-- along with their furry companions-- turned out for the 13th annual Burlingame Pet Parade, organizers say.

The event, held Saturday, was led by St. Paul’s Nursery School. The parade marshal was none other than Sunshine-- a 7-year-old Beagle mix belonging to Assemblyman Kevin Mullin and his wife Jessica.

Music was provided by the Burlingame High School Marching Band, the Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band and the San Mateo Elks Concert Band.

Below, you'll find information and photos on this year's winners, courtesy of event organizers. More photos are attached in the gallery at the bottom. Enjoy!

Award Winners

Grand Prize: “The Red Baron,” featuring Sammy, a 3-year-old Chihuahua-terrier mix owned by Carol Llewellyn of Stockton. Sammy wore a red costume with helmet and goggles and was perched on a red plane affixed to a slice of runway.

Best School Float: Roosevelt Elementary School won $400 for its “Chili Cookoff” entry, which featured a giant cardboard teddy bear wearing a chef’s hat and riding a chili pepper with flames underneath. It was designed by Justin Angelos and his daughter Quinn in honor of the cookoff’s new bear logo. Several dozen students and parents from Roosevelt accompanied the float.

Second Place School Float: Burlingame High School’s “Hello Dolly” float won the second-place school float prize of $200. It promoted the school’s fall musical with a group dressed as characters from the play, including a Bernese Mountain Dog dressed as Dolly.

Most Unusual Animal: The top honor went to Finn, a 1-year-old Juliana pig with black spots who excitedly wagged her tail throughout the festivities. Finn’s owner is Paul Belo of Burlingame.

Best Pet Trick: Fiona, an 11-year-old miniature Schnauzer, rolled over, bark, shook hands, fetched a tissue when her owner sneezed and played a miniature piano. She was part of a “Woodstock” group dressed in hippie regalia led by Kathy Kellman of Stockton.

Best Dressed Pet: The winner was Francesca, an 8-year-old English bulldog rescued by the Peninsula Humane Society and owned by Julia Lovett of San Bruno. Francesca was dressed in a fetching blue gown with gold embroidery and wore a tiara, She lounged on pillows, a Persian carpet and fake white fur rugs as her owner wheeled her down the street.

Most Original Float, Group or Wagon (non-school category): The Diodati family of Burlingame won this category with “The Golden Paw,” a large pirate ship festooned with a gold sail, steering wheel and nautical gear. The 14 members of the Diodati family accompanying the float were dressed in imaginative pirate costumes.

This year’s parade sponsors:

• The Broadway Merchants Association
• The City of Burlingame
• The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
• Pet Food Express
• The Daily Journal
• The Alan Canas Team of Realtors
• Korody Business Services
• Colorprint

This year’s judges:

• Ann Keighran, Mayor of Burlingame
• Emily Beach, Burlingame Council Member
• Alan Canas of the Alan Canas Team of Realtors
• Carole Matteri, Volunteer of the Year for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
• Rick DeNike, Manager of Pet Food Express in Burlingame

Pet Parade organizers:

• Ayn Gilmore of AVR Realty, who was in charge of the parade
• Ross Bruce of the Broadway Business Improvement District
• Brian Probst of the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA, who organized the many PHS volunteers at the parade
• John Kevranian, President of the Broadway Business Improvement District
• Mayor Ann Keighran
• Terry Nagel, who handled publicity
• Jeff Tateosian, official parade announcer
• Maureen Harber and Nirmala Bandrapalli, for organizing the judging
• Tim Hooker of Esperto, who designed the website
• Jeff Londer
• Jennifer Pfaff
• Rudy Horak
• Tom Gorrie and Boy Scout Troop 156
• Russ Cohen, who designed the flier
• Jim Ford of the Burlingame Police Department
• Chuck Pitkofsky, official parade photographer