SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO A juggler performs during a past Laurel Festival parade.

The 2026 Laurel Festival Pet Parade is on Sunday, June 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Wellsboro. Youngsters can bring a pet or a decorated bike and join in the fun. It’s free.

“A pet can be a cat, a dog or a miscellaneous animal, such as a camel, guinea pig, turtle, goat, pony, or whatever a youngster has,” a news release said. “Each child entering a pet or a decorated bike has to fill out a registration form to be in the parade. Only one pet or bike per child will be judged.”

Two or more siblings or unrelated children can enter one pet as a unit. The names of the children in the unit should be listed on one registration form. Each child in the unit will receive a participation ribbon and, if their group is picked as a winner, share a trophy.

Parents can preregister their children, 12 and under, now but no later than noon on June 10 to be entered in a drawing for a chance to win Wellsboro Chamber Dollars to spend at local businesses. The drawing will be on The Green following the parade.

To preregister, pick up a registration form at the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce office at 114 Main St. between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays; email info@wellsboropa.com to request one; or visit the chamber website at www.wellsboropa.com any time to download the form.

The parade is sponsored by Dr. Kristine Shaw of the Grand Canyon Veterinary Hospital at 23 Water Street In Wellsboro. This is Verla Bryant’s 52nd year of chairing this event.

Those who do not preregister by June 10, can register on June 14, pet parade day, the news release said.

On June 14, each child or children in a unit with a pet and/or a decorated bicycle must be accompanied by one parent or an adult during registration, judging and the parade.

Be there no later than 12:25 p.m. for registration and judging, which will be in separate areas in the Packer Park picnic area behind the Wellsboro Active Living Center (Senior Center) parking lot on Queen Street.

Registration and judging will both begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Those who preregistered and those who didn’t must check-in at the registration area first to receive their numbers for judging, their participation ribbons and while supplies last, their goody bags.

According to the news release, teens, 13 and older and adults who want to be in the parade but are not eligible for judging or for prizes can bring a pet or decorated bike to Queen Street at 1:15 p.m. on June 14 and line up on the sidewalk along the Laurel Health Center parking lot.

The parade will form on Queen Street and begin at 1:30 p.m. traveling from Queen onto Main Street to The Green.

According to the news release, At The Green, 23 trophies will be presented in 23 different categories to youngsters 12 and under individually or as a unit. The 18 award categories for dogs, for cats and for miscellaneous pets (6 each) are: best dressed, prettiest, most imaginative, most intelligent, most lovable and best in parade. The 3 bike award categories are: prettiest, most imaginative and best in parade.

Large trophies will be awarded to the entry selected to receive the Dr. Shaw Award and the entry named Overall Best in Parade.

“It is important to bring water for pets to drink as no water is provided at Packer Park, in the parade or on The Green,” the news release said.

For more information call 570-724-1926.