North Aurora’s Riverfront Park had a distinctly different look Saturday morning, thanks to some four-legged visitors who were clearly the stars of the show.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the village offered its second Dog Days of Summer event, which included a pet parade and pet-themed vendor market.
Katrina Keilty of North Aurora agreed that it was fun to see the park along the Fox River in a new light with her dog Duncan.
“He is a Wooly Siberian Husky and I thought of naming him Dunkin like the doughnut because he kind of looks like one,” she said just before the beginning of the pet parade. “We’re doing the competition for ‘most unique’ because most people don’t think he’s a husky as he has longer fur and two different colored eyes. I think having a pet parade is a fun idea.”
Natalie Stevens, community relations coordinator for the village of North Aurora, said years ago, the pet parade was part of the village’s North Aurora Days festival but that the parade itself has not been held for a number of years.
“We all love our pets and so this was something we decided to take on in-house,” she said.
Categories for entrants in the pet parade included cutest pet, an owner and pet dress-alike, the biggest and smallest pet, most unusual pet and best trick. First- and second-place prizes were awarded including trophies and gift cards to pet supply stores.
Some vendors were on hand selling items like handmade dog treats and clothing as well as custom-made pet portraits at the festival.
“We also have some great local pet companies on hand including doggy day care and pet stores and supplies and also on-site dog rescue groups all bringing adoptable dogs,” Stevens said.
The lingering smoke from Canadian wildfires may have kept some away but those in attendance were eager to show off their pets.
Lore Solano of North Aurora brought Dolce, a mini-long-haired dachshund who is a cream color which Solano said is “very unusual because she is almost white.”
“She is entered into the costume contest and last year they had a weiner race and she won her race,” she said. “I’m dressing her up as a princess. I’m a huge dog lover and I used to breed and show off dogs.”
Anna Califf of Westchester said she had a tough choice as to what category to enter her dog Lady Lucy in, who is a full-bred Chihuahua.
“We were given the choices of either best costume or look-alike. She’s won a bunch of contests before,” she said.
Only dogs entered the parade, although all pets were welcome. Laura McCoy of North Aurora said she considered bringing something besides Caramel, a rescue dog, to the event.
“We have a frog and a toad at home,” she said. “We actually debated but we don’t think they would have enjoyed it.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
