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Dog costume parade brings four legs and fun to Boardwalk

Owners get creative with costumes for annual Sea Witch animal stroll
Amanda and Cody had what was probably the most “Rehoboth Beach” costume of them all: a bucket of Thrasher’s fries and gulls. The pair won a prize for their creative costume at the annual Sea Witch costumed dog parade Oct. 26. Hundreds of pooches packed the parade route for the annual tradition. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
October 28, 2025

“Go big or go home” seemed to be a theme for the annual Sea Witch Festival’s costumed dog parade Oct. 26.

The Fabian family from Harrisburg, Pa., lived up to that with their costumes, “Mutts on Mars.”

“We had 16 humans and six dogs,” a family spokesman said at the awards ceremony, where they picked up a prize for their creativity.

A very large great dane, painted pink, also drew attention as a crew from Wilmington walked her past the big crowd on the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.

The Glen Allen crew from Richmond, Va., dressed in a Stars Wars theme for “May the Shih Tzu Be With You.” Their little dogs, Valley and Vega, were a big part of the presentation.

Hundreds of dogs walked the parade route from the north end of the Boardwalk to Laurel Street.

There were dogs dressed as sharks, a bride and Pebbles & Bam Bam from “The Flintstones.”

The most “Rehoboth Beach” outfit was probably Amanda and Cody who came a gulls hovering over a bucket of Thrashers fries.

Other dogs and their owners were spectators, like Randy Barnhart of Lewes and his rescue greyhound, Astro. Barnhart got him at the Greyhounds Reach the Beach event in Rehoboth Beach in early October. Astro is a year-and-a-half-old retired racing dog.

“He’s learning how to walk up stairs, learning how to be a dog,” Barnhart said. 

It was the final year leading the parade for Carol Everhart, Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of commerce president. She is retiring after leading the chamber for almost 30 years.

The full list of winners can be found at beach-fun.com/images/2025_SW_Costumed_Dog_Parade_Winner_List_10.27.25.pdf.

 

Gladys Kravitz, a pink great dane, and Chris Colket, Adam Albright, Tom Nesterak, Thomas Pearson and Brian Lamborn of Wilmington get a lot of attention on the parade route.
Alex, Jade and Molly McClure of Lewes pose with their dogs Minnie and Daisey as they watch the parade on the Boardwalk.
Eli and Casey Lynn of Rehoboth Beach, with their long-haired mini Doxie named Sadie. They won an award for “Dachshund Jurassic Park.”
Rodney Sterner of Dillsburg, Pa., as Fred Flintstone and Peaches as Pebbles. Rodney, his wife Kristen and their other dog, Odie, who was Bam Bam, won an award.
Helen Shortridge of King of Prussia, Pa., walks Aubrey, who is painted to be a pink and purple giraffe. The pair were award winners.
Kathe Archibald of Philadelphia dressed Max as a box of chocolates from “Forrest Gump.”
“May the Shih Tzu Be With You” is the Star Wars theme for the Glen Allen crew from Richmond, Va. Valley and Vega are riding in the wagon.
Jeff Shannon, left, and Christine Shannon of Middletown with their bride, Mallory. The trio won an award for their costumes.
Rugger, left, has a prime seat, and a bowl of water. Owners Mason and Corrine Harpster of Lewes keep a watchful eye on their pooch.
Carol Everhart, Rehoboth-Dewey Chamber of Commerce president, leads her final costumed dog parade. Everhart is retiring after almost 30 years as head of the chamber.
Randy Barnhart of Lewes adopted Astro at this year’s Greyhounds Reach the Beach event in Rehoboth Beach.
First-time parade participants Karen and Joe Sandler, and Melvin, of Dewey Beach, won an award for their “Mad Melvin” costumes.
Dogs dressed as Pandas and hot dogs are always favorites for the crowd that packs the Boardwalk for the dog parade.
Patti and Jack Glessner of Cambridge, Md. turned their Italian Greyhounds, Amico, Pazzo and Leggo, into Chia Pets. They won an award for their hair-raising effort.
The Penguin Parade, with dogs Rocco, Phila and Kova, won awards for (l-r) Shelly Ewing, Laura Marzine and Jaden Marzine of Lancaster, Pa.
This little guy gets an “A” for his bee costume.
Marquita Genies and Zoe came from Baltimore. It was their third time walking in the dog costume parade.
The Fabian family of Harrisburg, Pa. won an award for their presentation of “Mutts on Mars.” They had 16 humans and six dogs in their group.
One of the members of the Fabian family with one of their six dogs that were part of their parade group.
Karen Obier of Connecticut celebrates the 50th anniversary of “Jaws” by dressing her pooch as a shark.
Kaylee Mendez pushes Lily and Freckles in a stroller. She and their Buffalo Bills crew are from Lewes.
Skyler West of Millsboro and her dogs Bella and Bonnie got an award for theirs costumes, “Animals & Zookeepers.”
The Fake family of Reading, Pa., dressed as The Weather Channel. Their little pooch, Velma, played the role of the cloud. They won an award for their creative costume.
Jean and her dog, Rosie, pick up their award for a “Carol Burnett Show” parody, as Carol Everhart, right, watches.
Bella takes a picture of Crunch and his owner Cali at the awards ceremony. Crunch was dressed as a fairy.

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Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.

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