Dressed-up dogs impress judges in festive parade

Hundreds of people have turned out for an annual parade where people and pets donned festive costumes.

Phil Maclean, retail director of The Valley Evesham, said more than 600 people attended its Christmas Dog Parade on Sunday morning.

There were prizes for the best dressed entries and this year’s overall winners were a group dressed as the Polar Express, complete with a Father Christmas and wagon.

Mr Maclean said organisers were pleased to get a dry day, adding: “We were blown away by the outfits.”

“People have been planning and making their outfits for months and see the event as ‘the start of Christmas’, he said.

Mr Maclean said every dog that takes part receives a medal.

Ahead of the Sunday’s event he said the parade was a “highlight for us at The Valley”.

“It’s a wonderful way to bring our community together and celebrate the joy pets bring to our lives,” he said.

His personal favourite type of costumed dog was when they were “part of families that go all in”, he said.

In 2023, one family and its pets went Aladdin-themed, he explained, and even had a magic carpet.

He believed the venue was “one of the most dog friendly destinations going” as it is near countryside and includes a free dog agility course in the warmer months.

Other festive events at The Valley near Stratford Road include a trail featuring hand-built brick penguins and a free winter solstice sunrise walk taking place on 21 December.