Pet and Doll Parade is Thursday in Great Falls

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The 84th Annual Pet and Doll Parade is July 26 at 7 p.m.

The event is free and this year’s theme is “Wild, Wild West.”

Registration is ongoing at the Park and Recreation Office, 1700 River Drive N., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Participants will receive their identification/category tag at Park and Rec when they register. The tag must be worn during the parade and judging.

Registration forms are available at Park and Rec, Community Recreation Center, Natatorium Pool, Electric City Water Park, and Jaycee and Water Tower Pools.  Completed forms must be turned in at the Park and Rec office. For more information call 771-1265.

Late registration will be in front of the Civic Center from 5-6 p.m. the day of the parade. All participants need to be registered in the parade.

Prizes and special ribbons are awarded for first, second and third places in each category. All participants receive a participant ribbon.

Judging will be done by impartial judges beginning at 6:15 p.m. in front of the Civic Center; groups will be judged as one entry. Originality of costume is the top criteria of judging.

The Pet & Doll parade begins at 7 p.m.; all participants parade down Central Avenue to 8th Street. Spectators will have a great view all along the Central Avenue route. Parents are required to be at the breakup area as soon as the parade is over to pick up their children.

Divisions include:

  • Pet Division (10 categories)
  • Doll Division (8 categories)
  • Sports Division (13 categories)
  • Characterization Division (20 categories)
  • Circus Division (8 categories)
  • Occupational Division (7 categories)
  • Cartoon Division (6 categories)
  • Frontier Division (7 categories)

General Guidelines for the Pet & Doll Parade:

  • Any child with a horse or large farm animal must be entered in the Frontier Division
  • Any adults participating in the parade with their children must be dressed in costume
  • No political signs or banners
  • No motorized or battery-powered vehicles
  • No advertising of products or services
  • No throwing candy to spectators