It Takes a Town to Build This Sunday's Boo-le-Bark Dog Parade and Carnival

This Sunday, October 15, at 3 pm, 125 registered (this isn't the Wild Rumpus) costumed dogs and their handlers will creep through the Historic Boulevard Neighborhood in Boo-le-Bark on the Boulevard 2017, Athens' 2nd annual Halloween dog parade benefitting Athenspets. The festivities continue at the parade's end at Jittery Joe's Roaster on Barber Street, where the Canine Carnival offers food, music, a professional pet photo booth, vendors and lots of smiles and photos of costumed dogs. It's a fun, casual, relaxed afternoon - but, like so many wonderful things that look effortless, there's a lot of paddling underneath this swan, and it's all by enthusiastic volunteers and sponsors.

This year's Boo-le-Bark committee - Kristin Bryant, Jerry Daniel, Marilyn Estes, Tricia Hall, Emily Hoffman-Smalling, Lisa Milot, Kristen Morales, Sarah Peck, Katie Reed, Annie Sears, Ashley Short and Amy Thompson - have been meeting monthly since spring, with several members from last year's committee meeting since last year's parade ended. Everything from permits and registration to photos and food is decided and carried out from these meetings.

"The committee is an amazing group of people that I’m glad to say I’m a part of," says Ashley, who also coordinates Athenspets events. "The meetings are so fun that now that it’s coming to an end, I’m sad. How many meetings can you say that about?"

The enthusiasm of building the parade goes far beyond the committee meetings. Since the goals of Boo-le-Bark are fun, community and fundraising (this year for Athenspets), several residents and businesses volunteer their skills, property, businesses or outright sponsorship donations to make the afternoon a success.

The Historic Boulevard Neighborhood hosts the parade, while Jittery Joe's Roaster and Tasting Room hosts the post-parade gathering. Athens favorite rock star (voted by Flagpole magazine and Athens Banner-Herald) Conner Tribble has donated his time and talent both years, while weddings-and-event fave Sound Insight Productions will be DJing this year during Conner's breaks to keep the air festive.

“I am very honored to have been asked to be a part of this wonderful event,” says Conner.

Once again super-popular wedding and pet photographer Anne Yarbrough is donating her time (twice as important this year, as she's a new mommy) and skills for the pet photo booth ($5 donation to Athenspets this year for a sitting and one free download of your choice, plus options if you love more than one photo).

As an extra-enticing draw to the new vendors section this year, Hughes Subaru will be custom-engraving dog tags for free for carnival attendees. Bone-A-Fide Dog Training, LLC is providing dog security to keep 2-legged and 4-legged attendees safe and happy. Allegro: lively music for children is overseeing the Kiddie Corner this year, while Stella Harper Events is making sure the carnival runs smoothly. And from the beginning, Classic City Postal Service's clever graphic designs provided Boo-le-Bark with their classic Halloween dogs gazing at the moon logo that adorns posters, ads and stickers around town. (And Athens' own First American Bank & Trust, in their spirit of community-building, promoted the parade in their lobbies and media.)

Other top tier "Big Boo Bark" sponsors of the parade include Boulevard Animal Hospital, Pet Supplies Plus, Model Citizen Salon, Drs. Pat Priest and Neal Priest, Fetch The Leash, Flagpole Magazine, Leah Leggett Real Estate, home.made, Lowe Irrigation, Firehall 4 Animal Hospital, Entourage Clothing, Mothership Tattoo and Tom Ellis Construction.

"We're proud to partner with anything #fortheanimals!" says Mothership Tattoo.

"Big Bark" sponsors feature Terrapin Beer Co., Lil Ice Cream Dude, Bel Jean Copy/Print, Buck Sharp, Classic City Paw Print, Jane and Bruce Travis, Joe and Marianne Palmer, Pawtropolis & Helping Paws Rescue, Chico Lou's Fine Tattoos, Doggie Styles Dog Groomer, Elite Pet Sitting, Boulevard Gardening Club, Viva! Argentine Cuisine, Big City Bread Cafe, A. LaFera Salon, White Tiger Gourmet, Pet Lab Express, Joiner & Associates, and The Red & Black Publishing.

"We’re super excited to be part of the Boo-le-Bark on the Boulevard next weekend!" says Gaby and Jesse Lindsey of Viva! Argentine Cuisine.

"Kibble" sponsors - which buys a lot of needed kibble - include Oscar Bites Dog Treats, The K. A. Artist Shop, AKF Athens Martial Arts, Revival Yarns, The Grit, Tricia Hall, Bohdi and Lil Bit Sears-Johnson, Jerry Daniel, Bucky the cavalier, Kristin Bryant, and Willow, Kali, Holly, Bagel, and Indi Milot-Ryan.

Organizers are also thrilled to have 50 volunteers help out on the day of the event. Athenspets, co-ed business fraternity Pi Sigma Epsilon- Gamma Chapter, Paws UGA, and Speak Out for Species UGA are furnishing many of those volunteers.

In addition to the enthusiasm of the volunteers and sponsors, the committee also credits a lot of the success of last year's parade to the responsible dog owners in town who read and followed the rules (barkonboulevard.com), and understand their pet enough to know when he or she would be better suited to chill out at home if their humans would like to go to the parade.

Because Boo-le-Bark is about everyone working together for happy and safe fun for everyone - including our 4-legged friends.

Read about the Anne Yarbrough Photo Booth - Anne Yarbrough Photography Returns to Put the Boo! in Costume Dog Parade Pet Photo Booth (in a Good Way)

www.barkonboulevard.com

(Photo by Charlotte Shanewise)