Furry friends and scaled companions: Worth Avenue Pet Parade returns March 9 for 31st year

Furry and scaly companions will fill Worth Avenue's Via Amore during the 31st annual Worth Avenue Pet Parade and Costume Contest.

Organizer Sherry Frankel, of Sherry Frankel’s Melangerie, said she expects a large crowd of lovable critters during the March 9 event.

"I always look forward to it," Frankel told the Daily News. "Whenever I see someone with a dog while I'm on the street, I ask 'are you going to be here March 9?' And they just look at me confused."

While dogs make up the majority of pets in attendance, Frankel says she also expects cats, bearded dragons and local pig celebrity Mona Lisa to make an appearance.

For the costume competition, pets will be divided into three weight categories, small (up to 15 pounds), medium (16 to 35 pounds), and large pets (over 36 pounds). Each weight class will have its own subcategories including best in show, most unique, most creative and most obedient.

Judging the competition will be Palm Beach Town Council member Bobbie Lindsay; Tiffany Schaefer, co-owner of Woofgang Bakery and Grooming; Gregg Shenkar of ABS Real Estate Partners; and Catherine Louis of Bibi's Boutique.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. at Via Amore, and participants can expect the contest to begin at 10 a.m. with the large pets, since they tend to be more restless compared with their smaller counterparts, said Frankel.

Winners in each category will receive prizes from local business including a two-night stay at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa for best in show winners, Frankel said.

For more information, Frankel can be reached at 561-655-1996 or at faith@worth-avenue.com

Diego Diaz Lasa is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at dlasa@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Worth Avenue Pet Parade returns to Palm Beach for 31st year