Photos: Thousands fill Soulard for 30th annual Purina Pet Parade

Culture & History

Photos: Pooches, parrots and partygoers strut in Soulard for 30th annual pet parade聽

漏 2024 外网天堂 | By Brian Munoz

Published February 13, 2023 at 5:00 AM CST

鈥淏ailey,鈥� a 10-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, takes in the sun while decked out in Mardi Gras decorations on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Bailey, a 10-year-old Bernese mountain dog, takes in the sun while decked out in Mardi Gras decorations on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Pooches, parrots and partygoers filled the streets of Soulard to celebrate the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade, a staple of the St. Louis Mardi Gras season.

Dan Koehler, a Purina spokeswoman, said its team estimated between 80,000 and 90,000 people at the event last year, when more than $15,000 was raised for the House Springs-based Open Door Animal Sanctuary.

In addition to its philanthropic ties, the parade and Mardi Gras festivities bring out St. Louisans' creativity, Koehler said.

鈥淧eople will ideate for months and then take weeks to handcraft unique individual Mardi Gras-inspired costumes," he said. "It's always fantastic to see pet owners out sharing that bond with their pets, sharing some smiles with the community.鈥�

Tammy McPeek, of O鈥橣allon, Missouri, trekked to the parade along with her husband, Lee, and their two Shih Tzus 鈥� Mr. Meatball and Olive 鈥� who were found basking on the warm Sunday afternoon.

"The tuxedo jacket that we put together took probably 60 hours to make," she said. "We put a lot of time into it because it's really fun, and we just want to make it special every year."

In addition to Purina's Pet Parade, festivalgoers enjoyed trying what local eateries had to offer during the Taste of Soulard event and cheered on pooches during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby 鈥� the longest-running wiener dog race in the nation.

The race was highlighted by a matchup to predict the outcome of Super Bowl LVII between Eddie, a 4-year-old chihuahua wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jersey from St. Louis County and Speckles, a 3-year-old long-haired dachshund in Philadelphia Eagles gear from Swansea.

Much like , Eddie won the contest for the Chiefs in a photo finish.

Soulard Mardi Gras' celebrations . See photos from the day below:

Tammy McPeek, of O鈥橣allon, Mo., shows off her Mardi Gras jacket on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Tammy McPeek, of O鈥橣allon, Mo., shows off her Mardi Gras jacket on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Richard Hunt, 64, of Mt. Pleasant, holds his 15-year-old blue-and-yellow macaw Kiyago on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Richard Hunt, 64, of Mt. Pleasant, holds his 15-year-old blue-and-yellow macaw Kiyago on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淟ucy鈥� a 12-year-old King Charles Spaniel, rides in a wagon on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Lucy, a 12-year-old King Charles Spaniel, rides in a wagon on Sunday during the Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淏ullet,鈥� a 1-year-old miniature dachshund, sits in the jacket of Sherry Miller, 48, of Labadie, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Bullet, a 1-year-old miniature dachshund, sits in the jacket of Sherry Miller, 48, of Labadie, on Sunday during the Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

KSDK鈥檚 Rene Knott and Carolyn Kindle Betz, St. Louis CITY S.C. president/CEO and Enterprise Holdings Foundation president, serve as the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade's grand marshals on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, in Soulard. — KSDK鈥檚 Rene Knott and Carolyn Kindle, St. Louis City S.C. President/CEO and Enterprise Holdings Foundation president, serve as the Purina Pet Parade鈥檚 grand marshals on Sunday in Soulard.

Elizabeth, 7, and Rocio, 7, pet 鈥淐allie,鈥� a 5-year-old Dachshund-Beagle mix, while Margaret, 6, and Valentina, 4, sit next to them on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. 鈥淩edmond,鈥� an 8-year-old Golden Lab, stands behind them. — Elizabeth, 7, and Rocio, 7, pet Callie, a 5-year-old Dachshund-Beagle mix, while Margaret, 6, and Valentina, 4, sit next to them on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. Redmond, an 8-year-old Golden Lab, stands behind them.

A group of French Bulldogs look to the camera on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — A group of French Bulldogs look to the camera on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淗oney,鈥� a 10-month-old French Bulldog, licks their nose while being held by Justin Gabillet, 31, of Troy, Ill., on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Honey, a 10-month-old French Bulldog, licks its nose while being held by Justin Gabillet, 31, of Troy, Ill., on Sunday in Soulard.

鈥淪tar,鈥� a 12-year-old Doberman, rides in a modified bicycle cart with his owner Dan Hoadley, of the Central West End, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. Hoadley said this is the first year back after Star鈥檚 sibling died during the pandemic and made a replica Doberman named 鈥淎ta Boy鈥� to fill his place, but has been in the parade 10 times. — Star, a 12-year-old Doberman, rides in a modified bicycle cart with his owner, Dan Hoadley, of the Central West End, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. Hoadley said this is the first year back after Star鈥檚 sibling died during the pandemic and he made a replica Doberman named Ata Boy to fill his place; he's been in the parade 10 times.

鈥淜haleesi,鈥� a 7-year-old Standard Poodle, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Khaleesi, a 7-year-old standard poodle, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

A parade-goer wears a blinged out jacket on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — A paradegoer wears a blinged out jacket on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淭ink,鈥� a 4-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, goes up on the legs of their owner Tori Moore, 23, of Affton, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, before the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Tink, a 4-year-old miniature schnauzer, goes up on the legs of their owner Tori Moore, 23, of Affton, on Sunday before the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淢acho,鈥� a 1-year-old Pug, stands next to Amanda Banks, of Fenton, while blinged out in Kansas City Chiefs gear on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Macho, a 1-year-old Pug, stands next to Amanda Banks, of Fenton, while blinged out in Kansas City Chiefs gear on Sunday during the Purina Pet Parade.

From left: Standard Poodles Khaleesi, 7, Alice, 7, Hank, 8, and Lavender, 3, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — From left: standard poodles Khaleesi, 7; Alice, 7; Hank, 8, and Lavender, 3, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Brian Wahby, 鈥淩uler in Exile,鈥� tosses beads to the crowd on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Brian Wahby, "Ruler in Exile,鈥� tosses beads to the crowd on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Parade-goers pet 鈥淏ocephus,鈥� an 11-month-old Great Pyrenees,on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Paradegoers pet Bocephus, an 11-month-old Great Pyrenees, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淏ernie,鈥� an 8-year-old Bishon Frise, sits on the lap of Jessica Thurston, 33, of Maplewood, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Bernie, an 8-year-old Bichon Frise, sits on the lap of Jessica Thurston, 33, of Maplewood, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

鈥淔iona,鈥� a 2-year-old Corgi, looks up to the camera while sitting next to 鈥淢organ,鈥� a 7-year-old Corgi, on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Fiona, a 2-year-old Corgi, looks up to the camera while sitting next to Morgan, a 7-year-old Corgi, on Sunday during the Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Leah Bevis, 29, of Soulard, reaches for beads while holding 鈥淟una,鈥� a 7-year-old Chihuahua terrier mix on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Leah Bevis, 29, of Soulard, reaches for beads while holding Luna, a 7-year-old Chihuahua terrier mix, on Sunday during the 30th annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Sandy Delvecchio, 49, of St. Charles, checks her phone as Karen Kulage, 56, of St. Charles, pets 鈥淩oman鈥� a 13-year-old Pitt Bull-mix on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Sandy Delvecchio, 49, of St. Charles, checks her phone as Karen Kulage, 56, of St. Charles, pets Roman, a 13-year-old pit bull mix on Sunday during the Purina Pet Parade in Soulard.

Fans cheer on a miniature dachshund on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during a wiener dog race after the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Fans cheer on a miniature dachshund on Sunday during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard.

Dachshunds run down a track on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during a wiener dog race after the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Dachshunds run down a track on Sunday during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard.

Dachshund owners beckon their dogs on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during a wiener dog race after the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Dachshund owners beckon their dogs on Sunday during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard.

A Dachshunds stops while racing and Maggie Kiely, 29, of Benton Park, raises 鈥淐lark鈥� her 1-year-old Dachshund on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, after they won a wiener dog race after the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — A dachshund stops while racing and Maggie Kiely, 29, of Benton Park, raises Clark, her 1-year-old Dachshund on Sunday after they won the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard.

Taylor Bourland, 24, of Wentzville, hugs 鈥淔inney,鈥� her 2.5-year-old dachshund, after winning a wiener dog race on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. — Taylor Bourland, 24, of Wentzville, hugs Finney, her 2.5-year-old dachshund, after winning a wiener dog race on Sunday during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard.

鈥淓ddie,鈥� a 4-year-old Chihuahua races 鈥淪peckles鈥� a 3-year-old long-hair dachshund on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. Eddie, dressed in Kansas City Chiefs gear, beat Speckles, dressed in Eagles gear, during a race to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl later that day. — Eddie, a 4-year-old Chihuahua, races Speckles, a 3-year-old long-haired dachshund on Sunday during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard. Eddie, dressed in Kansas City Chiefs gear, beat Speckles, dressed in Eagles gear, during a race to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl later that day.

Tammy Milster, of St. Louis County, holds 鈥淓ddie,鈥� her 4-year-old Chihuahua while next to Kimberly Henrichs, of Swansea, and 鈥淪peckles鈥� a 3-year-old long-hair dachshund on Sunday, Feb. 12, 2023, during the 30th Annual Purina Pet Parade in Soulard. Eddie, dressed in Kansas City Chiefs gear, beat Speckles, dressed in Eagles gear, during a race to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl later that day. — Tammy Milster, of St. Louis County, holds Eddie, her 4-year-old Chihuahua, while next to Kimberly Henrichs, of Swansea, and Speckles a 3-year-old long-haired dachshund on Sunday, during the Tito鈥檚 Vodka Wiener Dog Derby in Soulard. Eddie, dressed in Kansas City Chiefs gear, beat Speckles, dressed in Eagles gear, during a race to predict the outcome of the Super Bowl later that day.