Who Let the Dogs Out? The Coronado Real Estate Association!
The Coronado Pet Parade and Chili Cook-off, sponsored by the Coronado Real Estate Association (CREA) and the city of Coronado moves into its fourth year when pets and their masters (or servants as the case may be) take center stage on Sunday Sept. 27 at Coronado Promenade Park (between City Hall and the Community Center) on Strand Way.
Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., and all dogs must be registered by 12:45 p.m. Chili is ready to go at 11:30 a.m. sharp, and dogs take the stage about 1 p.m.
Proceeds benefit PAWS of Coronado. The event is free to attend, and money is raised from chili booth registration fees ($100), entries of pets ($10 per pet per category) and chili sampling ($1 per taste). Additional money is raised through the sale of drinks and other food items including hot dogs, soft drinks and Coronado Brewing Company beer.
Vendor displays will include pet-related items, plus a booth for PAWs, including adoptable pets.
Caroline Haines of Ascent Real Estate brought the event to Coronado in 2012 after organizing Pet Parades for the real estate community in Laguna Beach for 15 years. “It’s a perfect way for those of us in the real estate professional to give back to our community,” she said. “What could be better than helping animals in need?”
The day begins with the chili contest. Chili booths, most of which are the creations of local real estate offices, offer up their own versions of what constitutes “Best Chili” — the final arbiters of that will be local celebrity judges, plus an audience choice award.
There is still time to register a booth and showcase your favorite recipe. Individuals as well as businesses can enter booths; contact event organizer Caroline Haines at (619) 435-5200. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places plus one People’s Choice Award for Best Chili.
After the audience is filled to the brim with chili, owners escort their pets around the show ring, with the DJ choosing appropriate songs to match the personality and character of each entry.
To date, the Pet Parades have raised $44,000 for PAWs of Coronado.
Pets entered in past events have mostly been of the canine variety, but your favorite parrot, hamster or feline is also welcome to strut its stuff, Haines said. Judging includes the categories of Most Handsome, Prettiest, Best Costume; Most Gorgeous Senior and Most Beautiful Rescue Pet (male and female), with first, second and third place awards per category.
This year the event will conclude with a parade of PAWS rescued pets and their owners; all will be given souvenir photos. “They’re all winners,” Haines said.
