Chatsworth Candyland Parade, Festival Is Today
Neighborhood Council Booth Features Adopt-a-Pet
By Ryann Blackshere
Chatsworth Patch
A glorious day with soaring summer-like temperatures is forecast for today when Chatsworth's annual holiday parade steps off on Devonshire Street.
The Chatsworth Kiwanis Club is organizing the 27th annual Holiday Parade and Festival with the theme Candyland. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be live music, performances, holiday shopping and other festivities at the Chatsworth Train Depot. The parade will begin at 1 p.m. with local marching bands, clowns, and classic cars traveling east on Devonshire Street.
Previously the entire event was on Devonshire, but parade Chairperson Lucia Montano said it was moved to the Train Depot "because we wanted to keep it a little more secure for vendors and provide more business in the Chatsworth corridor."
Already 77 local businesses and organizations have signed up to have booths at the fair. The Chatsworth Neighborhood Council will be hosting a booth featuring the adopt-a-pet program of the West Valley Animal Shelter.
"I got involved because I support the adoption of animals because there are way too many animals that are being put down," said Jelena Csanyi, a member of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council. "It is a necessity, especially in this economy, when people can't afford to feed themselves let alone their pets."
Csanyi has adopted three dogs from the West Valley Shelter and has helped the council donate food and supplies for the animals. The shelter is also hosting a "Happy Pawlidays" pet adoption event on Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. to help more animals find homes during the holidays.
"The love you get from the pets is indescribable," she says. "They are great assets for your emotional and physical stability."
The booth will be open from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. with special visits from animals living in the shelter. Volunteer shelter liaison Jo Aguirre says she will be walking five dogs and a couple kittens around the fair with signs that read "adopt me." The animals will be ready for adoption at $122 for the dogs which includes sterilization, vaccine and license, and $76 for the cats including sterilization and vaccine.
Santa Claus will make an appearance at the fair to pose for pictures with children.
