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Lewes Winter Fest Barkfest set for Feb. 8 and 9

January 6, 2013

The Seventh Annual Lewes Winter Fest Barkfest event takes place in the historic commercial district surrounding Second Street and across the canal at Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant the weekend before Valentine’s Day, Friday and Saturday,  Feb. 8 and 9.

The event gives Valentine’s Day shoppers and diners additional activities in which to participate and attend. The popular event includes a unique Pet Pageant on Saturday afternoon and a Friday Yappy Hour for Pets and People.  Comcast Spotlight continues as the event’s media sponsor and financial contributor for the seventh year. During the two-day Winter Fest event, numerous retail businesses and restaurants will be offering Valentine holiday-themed specials including discounts on specific items.

The Yappy Hour component of this year’s Winter Fest Barkfest was conceived by Lesley Bowers, owner of P.U.P.S. (Pawsitively Unique Pet Shop) on Second Street, who also initiated the Pet Pageant seven years ago. Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant on the canal in Lewes will host pets, their owners and people who like to yap from 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8, on the restaurant's heated, enclosed porch.

The Georgetown SPCA will host a Fill the Van activity at both events to solicit donations of blankets, sheets, pet food, kitty litter, toys, dog bones and bleach for cleaning the kennels. Attendees at the Yappy Hour can come with or without pets, and dogs should be leashed, with one dog per handler. Irish Eyes will feature specialty beverages that evening such as Bark-tini, Cat-atonic and Mutt-ini, and there will be a 50/50 raffle benefiting the Georgetown SPCA. Irish Eyes will donate 10 percent of total food sales for the entire day to the SPCA.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, the Pet Pageant returns to Bark Street (Bank Street, temporarily renamed for the event) where pets of all sizes and shapes, ages and genders strut their stuff in front of the judges and the crowds. The four categories of competition are Formal Wear, Leisure Wear, Companion Look-Alike and Kids Freestyle, open only to children. Registration takes place in advance at P.U.P.S. at 117 Second St. or the day of the event in front of Citizens Bank from noon to 1:30 p.m. The registration entry donation is $5 and benefits the Georgetown SPCA. All contestants must be on-site no later than 1:30 p.m. to receive their entry numbers. Contestants will line up with their owners at 1:45 p.m. behind Citizens Bank. The judges will award three prizes in each of four categories. This year, very special shelter dogs will be at the event to show their unconditional love and look for their forever homes.

This year’s judges are Kathy Davison of Comcast Spotlight and Ashley King, owner of Piccolino; and Debbie Sheing, who both have been owners of previous first-place Pet Pageant award winners.

For more information about the event, contact the Lewes Chamber of Commerce at 302-645-8073.

 

 

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