Thorold costume parade going to the dogs
CATHY PELLETIER
Thorold is ready to let the dogs out.
The city’s first Canine Costume Contest and Puppy Promenade will be unleashed Saturday, Oct. 28. So far, the response has been “fantastic,” says Diana D’Intino, co-chair of the BIA marketing committee.
The idea for the event began as a new way of attracting shoppers, she said.
“Our main goal is to bring people downtown and have a little fun with it.”
Businesses eagerly leapt on board, with sponsorship coming from PetValu,ThoroldVeterinaryHospital, the BIA and City of Thorold.
Lynn’s Grooming Salon at 15 Front St. S. has offered dog-sitting services for people who want to peruse shops pet-free before or after the parade. Other enthusiastic businesses and groups are also pitching in to run the event, including Thorold Public Library, A Yellow Flower Basket, Thorold Lions Club and Therapy Tails.
There is no entry fee, and entrants are encouraged to register in advance at www.thoroldbia.com/events. A registration package will be emailed to people who do so.
Check-in begins at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Pine Street North and Albert Street West — a fitting spot, says D’Intino, because it’s the future site of the new Thorold veterinary hospital. Participants will hand in a waiver and receive an entrant number.
The parade starts at 10 a.m., and winds its way down to Cobblestone Gardens Retirement Residence on Ormond Street, whose residents will choose their favourite pooch and christen it “the Cobblestone Cutie.”
A judging station will be set up at Trinity United Church on Pine Street, where Thorold Community Theatre’s president, Brian Cranford, and actor Rob Goslin will act as judges, awarding points for originality and creativity.
The event ends at the Thorold Public Library at 14 Ormond St. S., with prizes awarded at 11:30 for the best co-ordinated dog and owner costume, as well as Thorold’s top dog, for the best in show.
Registration forms are also available at Thorold Veterinary Hospital, at 2B Sullivan Avenue, PetValu at Pine Plaza and Lynn’s Grooming Salon. The deadline to register is Oct. 26. A full list of rules is available on the BIA website.
The Yellow Door Theatre Project promises a ghoulishly good time at its second annual Monster Mash.
All proceeds from the event Saturday, Oct. 28, fundraiser will go toward programming and projects at Yellow Door, a charitable organization dedicated to musical theatre training for local youth.
The Monster Mash will be held at the Yellow Door studios in Virgil, and is a family-friendly event for kids of all ages. Party guests will be tricked and treated to a dance party featuring spooky classics.
There’s a cash bar with refreshments for adults, a costume contest for young goblins and a chance to win great prizes — there’s even a family costume category. Enjoy the bounty of the bake sale with delectable
Halloween-themed treats (and takeout boxes), face painting and tours of the ‘haunted’ basement with thrill levels appropriate for young