Annual downtown tradition brings 'fur-righteningly' good time to Town Square
Black Mountain Pet Parade enjoys record turnout in 24th year
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 25, 2025
Merchants and shoppers in busy downtown Black Mountain, Oct. 25, might have thought they were experiencing an invasion of ghouls and goblins, but as scores of pets and their owners, in costumes, walked past storefronts, it marked the return of a local fall tradition.
The 24th Annual Black Mountain Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade & Costume Contest, supported by multiple businesses in the district, featured a record turnout, with 50 total entries, approximately 80 dogs and a single chicken.
Organized by Bon-A-Fide Pet Boutique and Visions of Creation, the event is sponsored by financial and in-kind donations from a dozen local businesses. Participants and onlookers gathered in Town Square where Halloween-themed music played on a speaker and volunteers greeted registrants, as proceeds from the fundraiser would be donated to Mountain Pet Rescue.
The parade and contest was established by Sandi Rector, the previous owner of Bon-A-Fide who passed away in 2012, and Visions of Creation co-owner June Vengoechea. Kim Weeks, who has owned and operated the Cherry Square pet store for 13 years, has worked with Vengoechea to continue the parade since.
“We normally get around 200 people every year,” Weeks said. “Today is our 24th parade, so next year is our big one.”
A parade winded along the sidewalks downtown, passing eager spectators and businesses before returning to its starting point. There, a panel of judges observed as Vengoechea introduced each entry, individually, while owners led their pets in a circle in front of the audience.
“It’s such a fun event and you always see people smiling and happy, as they see all the cute costumes,” Weeks said. “It really has become a Black Mountain tradition over the years. I think it gives people a chance to just smile and have a good time, and they don’t have to think about anything else going on in the world.”
Competitors were vying for the top spot in one of six categories: Best Graveyard Groupies for best group; Most Spooktacular for scariest; Most Howl-arious for funniest; Paw-some Originality for most creative; Best Trick-or-Treater for most traditional and Creepin’ Cute for spooky but adorable.
Each winner received gifts from local businesses Audience applause determined the winner of the Howl-O-Fame award, representing the favorite of the top six.
The winning entry was Cindy Davis and her dog Hazel, who dressed as “Scarecrow and Scared Crow.” Davis was the crow while Hazel pranced in a checkered shirt, blue jeans and a small straw hat.
“At first I was just going to have Hazel be a scarecrow, but then I decided to dress like a crow,” Davis said. “Then, when I signed up, I thought, ‘I’ll just be a scared crow.’”
She was shocked when her name was announced as the winner.
“I had no idea I could win; it was a total surprise,” she said, laughing. “It kind of made me cry, and Hazel did great in her first time here.”
Photos of the 24th Annual Black Mountain Howl-O-Ween Pet Parade & Costume Contest can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.