Dogs and people alike donned costumes. | BRITTANY LIN
On Tuesday afternoon, Epsilon Delta Mu (EDM) hosted its fourth canine parade to rejoice Halloween with the Kenyon neighborhood. Despite the chilly climate, over a dozen costumed dogs meandered down Middle Path, stopping to collect treats and pets from an adoring viewers. The occasion, which started 10 minutes after the Middle Path “Trick-or Treat,” featured dogs from college students, college and Gambier residents.
In addition to offering enjoyable and festivities to the Kenyon neighborhood, the occasion served as a fundraiser for the Dogs of Knox Fund, a non-profit that gives medical and behavioral help for dogs within the Knox County Animal Shelter. To elevate money, members of EDM offered colorfully wrapped luggage of canine treats and sweet within the atrium of Peirce Dining Hall within the days main as much as the occasion.
As dogs ambled down Middle Path, they confirmed off a variety of costumes, together with every little thing from pumpkins and superheroes to dragons and Harry Potter’s Quidditch uniform. After the parade, Vice President for Student Affairs Celestino Limas awarded superlatives — together with “Best Bark,” “Best Wag” and “Looks Most Like Owner” — to a number of proud canines. Goose, a golden retriever who belongs to Hannah Sussman ’25, gained “Best Smile” this yr in a Winnie-the-Pooh costume. One attendee, Bella Tuch ’25, expressed her enthusiasm for Goose’s win due to the canine’s presence within the North Campus Apartments (NCAs) loop. “I am an avid supporter of Goose, who lives in the [NCAs]because I always get to pet Goose when I walk by,” she stated.
Other dogs additionally had their probability to shine: A canine named Pistachio gained the coveted “Best Name” prize, whereas different dogs snagged titles reminiscent of “Best Dressed” and “Best Strut.” Regardless of which pups in the end secured the wins, the parade was a supply of pleasure for a number of Kenyon college students, a lot of whom miss their canine companions from home. “I loved the dog parade because it lifted my spirits and I got to see a German shepherd, just like my pup back home, which meant a lot to me!” one attendee, Zan Lapp ’27, wrote in a message to the Collegian.
Although the climate was within the low 40s, scores of scholars flocked to Middle Path to expertise the parade. Megan Dellenbaugh ’26 emphasised that the occasion’s novelty got here from each the leisure and sense of neighborhood that it offered.“It lifted my spirits so much to see the dogs all dressed up and the smiles on everyone’s faces when they walked down Middle Path,” she wrote in a message to the Collegian.
Along with the canine parade, a number of administrative places of work provided trick-or-treating alongside the sidelines, together with the Office of Student Engagement, Office of Campus Events and the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As they watched dogs trot by, college students had the chance to fill deal with luggage with a wide range of sweet from every desk. “It was fun getting candy after a long day of studying,” Kyle Boozer ’25, one other attendee of the parade, stated in an interview with the Collegian.
Ultimately, all these concerned emphasised their enjoyment of the occasion, from the chance to view colourful costumes to their means to cheer on their favourite campus canines. Looking ahead to future parades, some attendees wished for a fair larger diploma of interplay with the pups. “I think next time they should also include trick-or-treating for dogs, with dog treats. That’d be cute,” Tuch stated.
Editor-in-chief Audrey Baker ’25 and workers author Daisy Newbury ’27 contributed to reporting. Hannah Sussman ’25 is the managing editor of the Collegian.
 hosted its fourth dog parade to celebrate Halloween with the Kenyon community.){kind=link}