Laredo dog walk, bi-national parade to celebrate Mexican Independence Day

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - La Caminata de Gua Gua, a dog walk event, will hold its second annual event on Sept. 12 at 8 a.m. in front of City Hall, according to Victor Trevino of Laredo Proud Inc.

The event allows participants to bring their dogs and dress them up for prizes for best dressed. Trevino said the event also offers a prize for best match, given when both the owner and the dog dress up together.

“Absolutely, you know, people go out of their way,” Trevino said. “This is kind of a big event. When we first started, we didn’t think we were going to get a lot of participation, but in the first year there were more than 50 dogs there, and some of them went all out dressing them up in little carnival outfits, little clown outfits.”

Trevino said the event is free and encouraged participants to arrive a little before 8 a.m. to register, which qualifies them for prizes.

“That way we know who they are, so next year we can go ahead and invite them,” Trevino said. “We have a great plan for next year; I can’t reveal it yet.”

The Diez y Seis de Septiembre parade will follow at 9 a.m. Trevino described it as a binational parade held in collaboration with the city of Nuevo Laredo.

“There are floats and parades that come from Nuevo Laredo and also Laredo, and we celebrate our shared culture and democracy. It’s just a lot of fun because it brings the community together,” Trevino said.

This year marks the third year for the parade, according to Trevino. He said last year’s parade included more than 60 floats.

“The unique thing is that we have horses, Mexican attire, mariachis and other things that mix in our culture,” Trevino said.

The parade route will go down McPherson, down Houston, down San Bernardo and to Burlington.

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