2016 Pet Parade Comes to the Sandy Springs Festival

From the Heritage Sandy Springs:

SANDY SPRINGS, GA - Heritage Sandy Springs announced that the 29th Annual Pet Parade at the Sandy Springs Festival will be presented by Angels Among Us Pet Rescue.

Pets of all shapes and sizes will parade through the Sandy Springs Festival the morning of Saturday, September 17, sporting creative and crazy costumes. A Festival tradition since 1987, the Pet Parade is free to enter and prizes are awarded in a variety of categories. This year, awards will be given for Most Unusual Pet, Coolest Trick, Owner/Pet Lookalike, Celebrity Impersonator, Best of Show, and People’s Choice.

Online registration is currently open, and the first 50 pre-registrants are guaranteed to receive a goody bag. Day-of Registration will be available Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. at the Festival Main Stage. The parade begins at 10:00 a.m. with awards and prizes following at 11:00 a.m.

“Since its inception, the Pet Parade has been faithfully presented by the Kiwanis Club and we appreciate their dedication over the years,” said Sarah Poland, Festival Director for Heritage Sandy Springs. “When considering a new host for the 2016 parade, an animal rescue group was the perfect choice and Angels Among Us seamlessly took over the reins. We are very excited for this year’s event, which will include new prize categories and some special guests.”

The grand marshals of the 2016 Pet Parade are none other than international media sensations, The Hugging Dogs.

Kala and Keira were just hours away from being euthanized when Angels Among Us put out a plea on Facebook in order to save their lives. The photo of the pair “hugging” went viral on social media, and they were on their way to a foster home in just over two hours. Angels Among Us worked alongside the Etowah Valley Humane Society to rescue Kala and Keira and, one year later, these girls are happy and healthy in their forever home.

Atlanta Pet Life Magazine is the proud media sponsor of the 2016 Pet Parade at the Sandy Springs Festival. Many local business – like Trusted Friend Animal Clinic, Nature’s Logic, Dog City Bakery, Pet Paradise Resort Atlanta, and Cibo e Beve – have donated prizes and giveaway items for parade participants. If you are interested in sponsoring or donating to the parade, please contact Jackie@angelsrescue.org.

There is not a separate fee to participate in the Pet Parade but there is admission fee for the festival, benefitting Heritage Sandy Springs. Tickets are $5 for Adults (age 18+) and $2 for Youth (ages 6 – 17). Free entry for children ages 5 and under, as well as Heritage Sandy Springs Members. Two-day passes are also available for adults ($7) and youths ($3). Tickets are not pre-sold and are available only at the Festival gates.

The Sandy Springs Festival is held at Heritage Green, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, GA and the surrounding area. Recognized as the largest event in Sandy Springs, and one of the area’s best community festivals, the Sandy Springs Festival is a great event for the entire family. Festival dates and hours are Saturday, September 17, 2016, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 18, 2016, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

To register for the Pet Parade, and for more information on the Sandy Springs Festival, visit here. You may also contact Heritage Sandy Springs via email at events@heritagesandysprings.org or by calling 404-851-9111 x1. For more information on Angels Among Us Pet Rescue, please visit www.angelsrescue.org.

About Angels Among Us

Angels Among Us is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to saving dogs and cats from high-kill shelters in north Georgia. They operate through a network of volunteers and foster homes in the metro Atlanta area. Their efforts are funded by contributions from compassionate people and organizations who care and want to help make a difference… one pet at a time.

About the Sandy Springs Festival

This September will mark the 31st anniversary of the Sandy Springs Festival, a two-day celebration of community and tradition in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The Festival has grown from its humble beginnings as a small community picnic to fundraiser for the “Save Our Springs” campaign in 1984 to the largest community event in the North Fulton area with approximately 30,000 attendees. The Sandy Springs Festival serves as the primary fundraiser for Heritage Sandy Springs, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is dedicated to promoting history, stewarding a community park, and enhancing the cultural identity of Sandy Springs.

Image via Shutterstock