The 25th Annual Terrebonne Parish Christmas Parade will be held Friday, December 9 beginning at 7pm. Besides Santa, costumed characters, Terrebonne High School Marching Band, 20 floats and more, the parade will also have dogs this year! "Yup" you read right, the annual Dog March will immediately immediately follow the annual Christmas parade. 

The parade will begin at Terrebonne High School, follow Main Street, turn on Barrow Street and disband at School Street. Paradegoers can then walk to the Court Square for the lighting of the Parish Christmas Tree. Before the lighting, Christmas carols will be sung by Jolie Cantrelle of LA Kids.

The 20 floats that make up the parade are comprised of local businesses and families. Terrebonne Parish Main Street Manager Ann Picou said she starts planning the event each September. Float riders must pay for their float rental and their throws, which can consist of candy and stuffed animals. The previous riders have first right of refusal to participate, then if those don't return, an application process is open based on first-come-first served. Each float can carry up to 20 partipants. All participants must wear the installed harnesses for protection.

Now on to the Dogs

The event was moved to the Christmas Parade because of the cancellation of Downtown on the Bayou Festival. The Festival, which is usuall held in October was cancelled due to the effects from Hurricane Rita and Katrina on the Terrebonne Parish community. Organizers still wanting to hold the March decided to just follow the Christmas Parade. The annual Dog March will be headed by King Sam and Queen Mollie.

The event welcomes real dogs, inanimate dogs and humans dressed as dogs to march in support of the Humane Society of Houma-Terrebonne.  The event was started in 1997 when local attorney and library board member Michel Claudet said that the library system had “gone to the dogs”.  The library was in need of books, computers and funds to maintain longer hours of operation.  He initiated the idea of the Dog March to raise awareness and support of the library.  Since then, Terrebonne Parish has welcomed its brand new 70,000 square feet Main Branch located next to the Civic Center, and therefore, decided to pass the torch of the Dog March to the Humane Society of Houma-Terrebonne to raise awareness of its efforts in our local community. 

Awards will be presented at the event including Best Costumed Dog, Best Inanimate Dog, Most Unusual Dog, Most Distinguished Dog, Biggest Dog, Smallest Dog, Pick-of-the-Litter, Best Group of Dogs, Best Owner/Dog Look-alike, Best Theme Costume (Hairy Pawter). 

Registration will begin at 5 p.m. at Pampered Pooch (212 St. Charles Street) and continue to the start of the parade.  Pre-registration fees will be $7 through November 30.  Late registration fees (after November 30) will be $10.  Registration forms can be picked up at the Main Branch Library, Pampered Pooch, Lamb’s Way Religious Store, South Louisiana Seed, all Houma pet stores and veterinarians or downloaded at www.houmahumane.com

All registered dogs receive a “Doggie Bag” full of FREE GIFTS and owners receive an official Hairy Pawter pin with registration, parade number and automatic entry into all contests.

For additional information call 873-1095 or 879-2772.