Pet Parade Debuts Today at Horse Show

Horses may be the star of the show this weekend, but don’t surprised to see some little guys steal the stage today during the Peekskill Rotary’s 42nd Annual Horse Show and Country Fair at the Blue Mountain Reservation.

At 3 p.m., the show will feature a pet parade followed by prizes and games. There will be prizes for smallest pet, largest pet, most unusual pet, best dressed pet, and a pet/owner look-alike contest.

Line-up for the event will begin at about 2:30 p.m. There’s only one thing.

“No horses,” said Lisa-Marie Birdsall, one of the founder Recycled Paws Dog Rescue in Peekskill and a parade organizer. “They’re a little big. But everything else is welcome. People can bring parakeets if they like.”

Birdsall, who recently joined the Rotary Club of Peekskill, said she’s been to a number of animal parades and decided that a parade would be a good fit at the horse show. The rotary agreed with Birdsall and that’s how the parade got its start.

“It would be nice if we got 20 pets, since this is the first year,” Birdsall said. “But we’re prepared for as many as 50.”

There is no registration for the parade and pet owners can just show up.

The Horse Show takes place today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m, to 5 p.m.

Fair attractions include pony and hay rides, a country fair and craft market, bounce and slide rides for the children, and a “Kountry Kitchen” offering home-baked goods, pumpkins, apples and mums.  

There will also be a Rotary food tent offering burgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage and peppers, fries, beverages, ice cream and pretzels.  Breakfast is available in the morning.

Admission and parking are free and the show will go on, rain or shine.