Time again for Kiwanis pet parade, Rotary art show
By Jason Sweeney, Special to the Town Crier
 There will be plenty of visuals to tempt Los Altos downtown visitors this weekend. Both the Kiwanis Club’s pet parade and the Rotary’s Fine Art in the Park events are scheduled. |
It’s that time of year again. This weekend animals, artists and aficionados of both will overrun downtown Los Altos. Back-to-back events should make for a big weekend.
The 58th annual Kiwanis Pet Parade is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., Saturday, at First and Main streets. The parade will march down Main Street, turn left at the Community Plaza to go up State Street to its finish at First and State streets, typically about an hour later.
The 30th annual Los Altos Rotary Fine Art in the Park is scheduled 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, in Lincoln Park.
The Los Altos Kiwanis Pet Parade is older than the city itself. The first one was held in 1947. The annual event, set for the Saturday after Mother’s Day, has been a popular downtown event ever since.
More than 35 groups and organizations are expected to march with their pets. Dogs, cats, hamsters and even llamas have marched in the past. Horses from the Los Altos Hills Horsemen’s Association will bring up the rear.
The San Francisco Dachshund Group will march for the first time this year. Several popular bands will participate, including the Los Trancos Woods Community Band, The South Bay Jazz Society and Ye Olde Towne Band.
This year’s pet parade is a special one for the Los Altos Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis governor for California, Nevada and Hawaii, Larry McLelland, and his wife, Yolie, will attend. The grand marshal of the parade is Marge Gratiot, superintendent of the Los Altos School District, who will retire in June after 18 years running the school district. Dignitaries will ride in classic convertibles before taking their places on the grandstand at Third and Main streets.
After the pet parade, parade goers can amble over to Lincoln Park for the Los Altos Rotary Fine Art in the Park show. The art show, also scheduled on Sunday, is considered one of the more prestigious in California, featuring art and crafts from more than 200 select artists, chosen through a jury process, from across the country.
The show will feature a wide range of artwork, including paintings, glassworks, photography, jewelry, sculptures and weaving.
The Rotary Club will provide an array of food and beverages along with opportunities for wine and beer tasting. Collectible glasses commemorating the 30th Fine Art in the Park will be available for purchase.
Live music, entertainment and activities for children are part of this year’s show.
Rotary Club members work year-round preparing for the event. All 160 members are expected to be out in force to ensure the show’s success. The art show is the Los Altos Rotary Club’s biggest fund-raiser. This is the 100th anniversary of Rotary International and they expect this year’s art show to be a special one.
Proceeds from the art show benefit the Rotary AIDS project, Community Services Agency, Child Advocacy Council and other charitable projects and organizations. The art show has raised more than $1 million for charity over the years. Last year, the Los Altos Rotary Club distributed more than $94,000 in grants.
Admission and parking are free.
Kiwanis Pet Parade participants and observers are reminded to bring water for their pets and plastic bags for droppings. Participants should assemble for the parade by 9:30 a.m.
For more information about the pet parade or to find out how to participate, call 988-9900, or contact Bonnie Nunke at 961-5388 or bonnienunke@losaltoskiwanis.org.
For more information on the Rotary Fine Art Show, log on to www.losaltosrotary.org or call 949-5908, ext. 2.
