Mardi Growl 2027: Knoxville's Pet Parade & Festival

About this event

Young-Williams Animal Center's 20th annual Mardi Growl is Saturday, March 6, 2027. The pet parade starts in the Old City at 11am and runs about 1.2 miles west on Jackson Avenue to World's Fair Park Drive. It ends at the pet festival on the Performance Lawn at World's Fair Park. Register your pet to walk in the parade, or join the thousands of spectators along the route. Check-in and day-of registration ($20) run 9–10:30am in the Old City. The staging entrance is in front of Covenant Health Park on E Jackson Avenue. Registered walkers get a walker number and swag bag. The free festival runs 11am–3pm with nearly 100 pet-loving vendors, food trucks, live music, games, and costume contests. Young-Williams vet staff offer $10 rabies vaccines and microchipping from 12–3pm. Free street parking is on Magnolia Avenue and in the lot at Gay Street and Magnolia Avenue. Proceeds help the 11,000+ pets Young-Williams cares for each year. Details: young-williams.org/mardigrowl