Paws of all shapes, sizes, breeds and backgrounds will soon take to Main Street for the third annual Hogansville Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade. 

The annual dog parade event on Oct. 12 will be a week before the Hogansville Hummingbird Festival on Oct. 19. 

“There will be a $5 fee for this year’s [parade], but those funds will go towards covering some of the costs for this year,” said Hummingbird Festival volunteer and parade coordinator Roseanna Prado. “The funds raised from these events and the festival go toward the Hogansville Charitable Trust, which is a non-profit that takes care of city-scapes.” 

Currently, Hogansville is going through a revitalizing process that the Charitable Trust is helping pay for along with SPLOST dollars and other grants. 

The dog walk itself will feature three judges to analyze dogs and their owners in four different categories. 

“They will be judged before the start of the parade for best costume, best owner look alike, best behaved and best kisser,” Prado said. “The parade will go down Main Street and then back up to the park.” 

Locals and visitors can attend the parade to watch the dogs from the streets and enjoy the furry sight. 

“There are some really great costumes out there,” Prado said. “We have a number of people who actually come to watch or participate that live outside of Troup County. We like to show the outside community how nice Hogansville is.” 

Prado said that Hogansville is a pet-friendly town, where almost everyone owns either a cat or dog.

“We have a number of restaurants with outdoor seating that will make a dog friendly lunch place after the parade,” Prado said. “This is a chance for people to come out and show off their pets and mingle with the pet community.” 

In 2018, the parade saw more than 60 dogs and their owners. This year Prado said she hopes for even more, even with the new addition of a registration fee. 

“It’s not about the money, it is just about having people come out and have a great time,” Prado said. 

Registration and judging starts at 10 a.m. at Calvin Hipp Park until 11 a.m. when the parade begins. 

One $5 fee covers owner and all dogs. Parade walkers are asked to pre-register by Oct. 4. There will still be chance to enter into the parade after the date, but late registers are just asked to come early to fill out a registration form. 

To register, go to form.jotform.com/91746334836162 or visit hummingbirdfestival.com for more information.