TUPELO - Clear skies and warm weather proved to be ideal conditions for the Tupelo Elvis Presley Festival Parade Saturday morning.

The third annual event began at Church Street School and ended on Main Street in front of the Fairpark complex. The event's organizer, Neal McCoy, said the parade was well-attended.

"We are very happy with this year's parade," McCoy said. "We had approximately 25 entries and there was a good crowd on Main Street. All of the Elvis impersonators rode in the parade in different classic cars and we had several floats and marchers. We are pleased with the turnout."

Also on Saturday, the seventh annual pet parade barked its way along North Spring Street.

"We look forward to this event every year," said Angie Taylor with the Tupelo Main Street Association. "The
parade is sponsored by Sunshine Mills and the proceeds go to the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society. The humane society does a great job, and Pet parade winners

- Belle, a Yorkshire terrier owned by Allison Peeples, won �Best Dressed�

- Cali, a Jack Russell terrier owned by Zack Daniels, won �Most Unusual�

- Sully, a miniature dachshund owned by Grace Ann Atwood, won �Best Spirit�

- Molly, a mixed-breed owned by Andrea Kennedy, won �Pet-Owner Look-alike�

- Mozart, a Yorkshire terrier owned by Brandon Walker, won �Elvis Look-alike�

Contestants in the parade were judged in several categories including best costume, best dressed, owner look-alike, best spirit and most unusual.

Mozart, a 4-year-old Yorkshire terrier from south Ponotoc, won the Elvis look-alike category.

"I am every excited that Mozart won," said Brandon Walker, 14. "We came here to win and we are going home with a trophy."

The most unusual category was won by Callie, a 1-year-old Jack Russell terrier owned by Zach Daniels of Tupelo. Judges for the event were Julee Brown, Rachel Pierce and John Dolusic, all of WTVA�s �AM Live.�

"It was fantastic," Pierce said. "As usual, people shocked us with their creativity and great costumes for their dogs. It was a good fundraiser for the shelter."
 

Posted:  10th. June 2008