2018 Pet Parade
The Burlingame Pet Parade was started in 2004 by a group of volunteers to promote community spirit. It is entirely supported by volunteers and community donations.
Click below to learn more about past parades!
More than 2,100 spectators and 800 participants turned out for the 15th annual Burlingame Pet Parade on September 29, 2018, which featured three bands, costume and float contests, and lots of smiling people accompanied by pets in hilarious costumes.
September
To view and download photos of the 2018 Burlingame Pet Parade, click here.
Girl Scouts from Cadet Troop 62295 of Burlingame Intermediate School carried the American flag at the front of the parade, followed by tots from First Presbyterian Church Preschool carrying colorful balloons and the parade banner.
The parade marshal, a 2-1/2-year-old Goldendoodle named Penny, rode in a classic red Thunderbird convertible (courtesy of Don Hamblin of Burlingame Auto Body) with her owner, Marialena Malejan-Roussere of San Mateo, and Sophia Dugoni, a lifelong Burlingame resident. Penny, who is a certified therapy dog, will star as Sandy and Sophia will play the role of Annie in an upcoming production of the musical “Annie” by the Pied Piper Players of San Mateo. About 60 cast members from “Annie” also marched in the parade and were honored with the “Most Original Float, Group or Wagon” award in the non-school category.
Music was provided by the Burlingame High School Marching Band, the Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band and the San Mateo Elks Concert Band. Art Attack, the Burlingame Youth Advisory Commission and the Burlingame Lions Club’s Leos (teen members) offered free animal-themed art projects for children.
Students from McKinley Elementary School designed a haunted mansion for their group entry to promote their Harvest Festival and students from Roosevelt Elementary School created a float with a giant chili pot to herald the school’s Chili Cookoff.
Officer Steve Vega of the Burlingame Police Department marched in the parade with police dog Boss, a German shepherd imported from the Czech Republic. Boss was born in 2011 and is trained in obedience, agility, tracking, evidence search, area and building searches, and handler protection.
AWARD WINNERS
GRAND PRIZE: The top prize went to Ginger, a 14-year-old Chihuahua owned by Ruth Chofre of Foster City. Ginger, a rescue dog, was also the winner of the BEST DRESSED PET category. She wore goggles and a snorkel and rode in a stroller decorated with ocean creatures and tiny flippers.
BEST SCHOOL FLOAT: McKinley Elementary School in Burlingame won top honors in the Best School Float contest for a float promoting the school’s Harvest Festival. The float featured a haunted mansion surrounded by tombstones and a sign that read “Enter at your own risk!” It was guarded by a bulldog named Frankie. Many McKinley families wearing Harvest Festival T-shirts accompanied the float.
SECOND PLACE SCHOOL FLOAT: Roosevelt Elementary School won second-place honors for its Chili Cook-off float, which included a giant teddy bear chef sitting on bales of hay, along with scarecrows, pumpkins, autumn leaves and students dressed as chili peppers. Roosevelt families accompanied the float.
MOST UNUSUAL PET: The top honor went to Fluffy the snake, a 22-year-old ball python owned by Sara Hitchings of Burlingame.
BEST TRICK: Panda, a 6-year-old poodle-terrier dog owned by Gary Lamm of San Bruno, won this category by playing dead and jumping through a hoop.
MOST ORIGINAL FLOAT, GROUP OR WAGON (NON-SCHOOL CATEGORY): The cast of “Annie” won this category.
We are very grateful to this year’s parade sponsors:
-
The Broadway Merchants Association
-
The City of Burlingame
-
The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
-
Pet Food Express
-
The Daily Journal
-
InSync Real Estate
-
Korody Business Services
-
Colorprint
-
Bayshore Auto Body
-
Many thanks to this year’s judges:
-
Jon Mays, editor of the Daily Journal
-
Rick DeNike, manager of Pet Food Express store in Burlingame
-
Debbie Livingston of InSync Real Estate
-
Devra Foster, longtime volunteer for the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
We’d also like to thank our Pet Parade organizers, including:
-
John Kevranian, President, Broadway Burlingame Business Improvement District
-
Ayn Gilmore of AVR Realty, who was in charge of the parade
-
Larkin O’Toole of the Peninsula Humane Society and SPCA, and the dozens of PHS volunteers who helped at the parade
-
Ross Bruce of the Broadway Business Improvement District
-
Jeff Tateosian, official parade announcer
-
Councilmember and former Mayor Ann Keighran
-
Former Burlingame Mayor Terry Nagel, who handled publicity
-
Jeff Londer, who posted banners around town
-
Jennifer Pfaff, for publicizing the parade with local pre-schools
-
Nirmala Bandrapalli, for managing the judges
-
Tom Gorrie of Boy Scout Troop 156 and the Scouts who posted American flags on Broadway
-
Russ Cohen for designing the flier
-
Chris Roman of the Burlingame Parks & Recreation Department
-
Rick Horne of Burlingame Public Works
-
Corporal Mike Martyn of the Burlingame Police Department