4th of July Pet Parade
Sponsored by Bend Pet Express
& Presented by Bend Kiwanis Club
A Community Tradition in Downtown Bend since the 1930’s
Come celebrate our country’s independence on July 4th with Bend Park & Recreation!
Start out your day's festivities with the Pet Parade through downtown Bend then follow up with the Old Fashioned July 4th Festival in Drake Park from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.
Parade Participants:
- Kids of all ages are invited to participate. Come dressed in costume with your pet or stuffed animal on pulled wagons, floats, bikes or trikes.
- Kids will receive a keepsake and popsicle.
- No registration necessary. Lineup is downtown on Wall Street next to the School Administration building.
- Pet must be leashed - you are responsible for your pet. No rabbits, cats or aggressive dogs.
- Please do not give away animals.
- No solicitation, commercial floats, banners, motorized vehicles, motorcycles or distribution on anything to spectators.
Parade Schedule, Lineup & Route:
The decorating party and lineup begins at 9:30 am on Wall Street in front of the Bend Lapine School Dist. Admin Building at 520 NW Wall Street. Horses and other large animals, please line up at Wall Street and Idaho by the Boys & Girls Club. Equestrians - please wear your helmet. The parade begins at 10:00 am, sharp!
Downtown road closures take place from 9:00 am - 11:30 am. Please use alternative transportation if possible. If you need to drive, parking is available in the parking garage on Lava Street. There will also be a free Bike Valet area in Drake Park near the permanent restrooms.
Download Pet Parade map and flyer (PDF)
For more details or accessibility information, call Bend Park & Recreation District at (541) 389-7275.
Pet Parade History & Fun Facts: Did you know?
Yesterday:
- The first mention of the Pet Parade was in the Bend Bulletin dated June 30, 1932. 100 children competed for a first prize of $4, second prize of $2 and nine $1 prizes. It was part a three-day celebration which included the Water Pageant
- Doris Grubb won first place in the first Pet Parade with her cat riding in a baby stroller. In 2005, Doris, at age 77, returned to the Pet Parade again for Bend’s 100th year anniversary.
- There were 5,000 spectators at the first recorded Pet Parade and all through the 1930's there was no less than 5,000 spectators at each parade.
- A badger won 6th place in the 1932 Pet Parade
- In 1933 Louise Stacy won first place in the girls division dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. She only received the vote of two judges due to her chewing gum and that the Statues of Liberty in New York was not a gum chewer, causing unrest with the judges!
- Parade sections had to be well planned to avert scuffles between the animals
- Just like today, there were a variety of unique pets in the 1930’s including June bugs, cats, deer, badgers, gold fish, chickens, squirrels, ducks, oxen, calves, a pet eagle, baby coyotes, and two fawns in a netted baby buggy
- In 1933, "cross dogs and rattle snakes" were barred from the parade. In the 2000’s, we have replaced that with "no aggressive dogs allowed" . . . nothing changes!
- A special treat of lemonade was passed out to all the participants by the Bend Fire Dept. The tradition continues today with popsicles for all participating kids
- There were very few pets entered in the 1941 Pet Parade
- In 1943, there was no formal celebration as it was World War II
Today:
- Bend Park and Recreation has organized and produced the Pet Parade since 1949, when time Park and Recreation was part of the city
- Today’s Pet Parade features an estimated 8,000+ participants and spectators
- It's the largest parade in Bend
- Variety of animals are in the parade each year, from dogs, horses, llamas, gold fish, chickens and rats, to lizards, goats, bulls, cows, sheep and guinea pigs . . . to name just a few!
- The parade is a great regional draw for the community. It's goofy, off the wall and is a much-loved tradition of Bend!
