Opelika Main Street Hosts 5th Annual Howl-o-ween Parade

On Oct. 31, 2011, at 5:30 p.m., ghosts, goblins and growling ghouls will roam the streets of Opelika, Ala. But don’t be scared: they will be on leashes.


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“Howl-o-ween is a super fun event, the only one of its kind in the area,” Director of Opelika Main Street Pam Powers-Smith said. “It is a chance for people with dogs to come out, dress them up so they can compete in a costume contest, and then they also get to trick-or-treat with their dogs.”

Hosted by Opelika Main Street, an organization dedicated to promoting stores, holding events and supporting the historic district of downtown Opelika, Howl-o-ween benefits Rescue K911, a non-kill shelter in Lee County.

After working as a fifth-year volunteer for Howl-o-ween, Powers-Smith is looking forward to the challenge of running it for her first time.

“I hope we can organize it and let people have a good time while seeing downtown Opelika in a different way,” Powers-Smith said.

Participants in this event are limited to K9s and their owners. However, Powers-Smith encourages those without canines to attend as well.

“We hope to have about 150 people with their canines in our parade,” Powers-Smith said. “Of course some people bring more than one dog, but as far as I guess family units, we are hoping for 150 this year. It’s really fun to see that many dogs dressed up walking by, so even if you don’t have a canine, you can come out and watch the festivities because it’s a lot of fun.”

The event offers more than a parade of dogs dressed in costumes. It also provides ambiance.

“It’s an opportunity to hang out outside, which is always great in our historic downtown area,” Powers-Smith said. “You can hang out with friends, meet new people, mingle about and shop late. My favorite part is the overall atmosphere of this event. There’s really nowhere else you can take your dog, shop, have fun and trick-or-treat with them just as if they were your children.”

In order to preregister, visit Taylor Made Designs on 8th Street in downtown Opelika. Registration will also be available the night of the event.

“You have two registration options,” Powers-Smith said. “You can pay $10 to register your dog, or you can pay $25 for the VIP pass, and that’s ‘Very Important Pooch.’ If you pay $25, you get to go first in the parade and that additional money goes straight to Rescue K911, which is a great cause.”

For more information on Howl-o-ween, visit Opelika Main Street’s website at opelikamainstreet.org or search for “5th Annual Howl-o-ween Parade” on Facebook.