81st annual Rotary Pet Parade is Saturday

WINSTED >> The 81st Annual Rotary Pet Parade is set to delight hundreds of children of all ages on Saturday, May 20 at 2p.m., on Winsted’s Main Street – rain or shine. All children from Winsted, Torrington, Norfolk, New Hartford, Barkhamsted and Colebrook are invited to participate in this annual spring tradition organized by the Torrington – Winsted Area Rotary Club. The oldest pet parade in the nation, the Winsted spectacle will feature twelve parade divisions; two marching bands; Rotary and local dignitaries; the 2016 Laurel Queen – Joanne Harrington; the 2017 Pet Parade Poster Winner – Elise Petro, a fourth-grader from East School in Torrington; and Honorary Parade Marshals, including Rachel Tway-Grant, Director of the Winsted Area Child Care; Shannon Fields; Mary Cecchinato, director of the Torrington Area Child Care; and Toni Sterling with her son Brandy, who are both former enrollees at the Torrington Area Child Care Center.

The diverse Pet Parade Divisions make it possible for any and all children to take part, even if they don’t own a pet. The parade divisions include: small floats, wagons and doll carriages that might contain a child, pet or stuffed animal; pets — carried, caged or on a lead; famous people in costume; animated/cartoon characters; super heroes and villains; fiction and fantasy from the movies/books; floats; Scouts, sports and youth organizations; dogs — leashed or carried; and needing helmets to participate — bikes; rollerblades and skateboards; small self – propelled vehicles; and horses and ponies.

To register for the Pet Parade, forms were distributed through the schools in Torrington, Winsted, Colebrook, New Hartford, Barkhamsted and Norfolk; or on the day of the Pet Parade at parade line –up, located on Meadow Street in Winsted between 1-1:30 p.m. One may also view parade information on Facebook at Winsted (CT) Rotary Pet Parade. All winning parade division winners announced will receive a medal at the East End Park ceremonies following the parade’s conclusion, and other prizes awarded by the judges may include a Kindle or bicycle.

An annual pre – parade activity is the Pet Parade poster contest, which is open to all school children. Fifteen schools and nearly 350 children submitted their posters for judging in April. The posters are currently displayed in store fronts throughout the northwest corner advertising the event. The 15 winning posters will be displayed on a float which is pulled down Main Street on Parade Day.

Poster Winners will be announced at the park where a “Best in School” winner from each of the participating schools will receive a Kindle. All runners up will receive a medal. The Grand Prize Winner, Elise Petro, from East School in Torrington, will ride down Main Street in a convertible with her winning poster and will have the honor of being the Poster Ambassador for the 82nd Annual Pet Parade to be held next year on May 19th, 2018.

The Rotary Club encourages everyone who created a poster for the parade to participate in the celebration at the park and look for their poster either in a local store window or displayed around the bandstand on Parade Day. They may also choose to march in the Pet Parade as well.

For information, call -Larry Cassella at 860-482-9364 or Sarah Dziedzic at 860-496-7587.