Registration begins at 10:30 AM at the Owen Park tennis courts. FREE

You are also able to register in advance. If you do this, please check in at the registration table to get your number. 

 

Children ages 0-12 are the official stars of this parade, but they can bring their parents, family, friends, and toys to march with them. 

 

The parade starts at 11:00 AM, and runs from the Owen Park tennis courts, down the walking path along the Eau Claire River, to the Sarge Boyd Band Shell. At the band shell, each child will be announced, viewed by our judges, and then given a gift bag. 

 

Once the parade concludes, there will be prizes for creative costumes, and door prizes. We are also giving away two grand prizes: a boy's bike and a girl's bike. 

 

This year Clear Water is happy to welcome Heidi Paxson, Anchor at WEAU, as our guest MC!

 

The parade is led by our Grand Animal of the Chippewa Valley, an animal selected in a contest that raises funds to support the parade, as well as other non-profit organizations in our community. In the past, the Grand Animal has been a goat, a guinea pig (which rode in a golf cart at the beginning of our parade) and a dog. If you would like your animal to lead the parade, check out the details below for the Grand Animal. Voting begins May 1, 2024. 

 

Clear Water Kiwanis raises funds to support many non-profit organizations in our community that assist children. Proceeds from sponsorships of the Doll and Pet Parade are used for this purpose. A few of the organizations supported by Clear Water include the Eau Claire Homeless Program, North High School Scholarships, Drug Endangered Children Program, Feed My People Kid's Meals, Eau Claire Children's Museum, Junior Achievement, Power of Perception, ECASD Clothing Closet, ECASD Foster Care Fund, ECASD Backpack Program, Community Table, Fierce Freedom, and Girls on the Run. 

 

Grand Animal of the Chippewa Valley is an online, vote-driven popularity contest to raise funds for the Clear Water Kiwanis Club in support of local programs that benefit children and youth. The contest is open to all animals and toys, not just dogs and cats. Goats, horses, turtles, teddy bears, dolls, sheep, pigs, etc., are all eligible to become the Grand Animal of the Chippewa Valley. The only requirement is that the winner must be free to lead the Doll and Pet Parade on Saturday, June 1. 

How do I Enter?

1. Go to the official website
   www.gogophotocontest.com/ClearWaterGrandAnimal . 
   and follow the directions to upload a picture of your animal. There is no fee to enter.
2. Photo of animal only (no people).
3. Photo needs to be sharp and in focus.
4. Include a short statement as to why your entry is the grandest. 
5. Include your contact information (name, phone number, and email) to be used if you are the contest winner.  
6. Voting runs from May 1, 2024 - May 26, 2024.

How is the winner selected?

Members of the public will have the ability to vote on their favorite animal. The entry with the most votes in the contest wins. Winner will be selected prior to the parade. 

How do I vote?

1. Go to 
   www.gogophotocontest.com/ClearWaterGrandAnimal 
   starting on May 1.
2. Each vote is $1.00. Vote as often as you wish. For example, if you wish Pete's Python to get 50 votes, your payment would be $50.
3. You can vote for multiple entries, but each vote is $1.00.
4. Encourage your friends and family to vote often!