This year marks the 10th annual Festival and Parade, with the theme this year of “Surf Dogs USA”, which is particularly apt, given our dog-friendly shores here on the Forgotten Coast. The festival will feature live music, local food and drinks, arts and crafts vendors, and parade of pups and owners. The entry fee is $20 for Golf Carts and $5 for human walkers. The true stars of the show, the dogs, get to walk for free in keeping with their puppy prestige.

The King and Queen of Apalachicola’s Mardi Gras parade are always shelter animals who are ready for a forever home. As always, they will have a place of honor in the parade.

In the tradition of the Mystic Krewe of Salty Barkers, profits from the parade will be donated to help care for the animals of the Forgotten Coast of Florida. Beneficiaries have included Franklin County Humane Society, the Florida Wild Mammal Association, and the Apalachicola Dog Park.

For more information, contact 850-670-5064 or apalachdogs@gmail.com. You can learn more about the event at saltybarkers.com.