October 1947 marked the 12th annual Hayward Pet Parade sponsored by the Hayward Lions Club. The parade, advertised as “The Greatest Parade of the West,” brought children from throughout the area to participate. They won prizes for such things as best dressed pet, best child and pet look-alikes, cutest stuffed animal or doll, and best child costume. The parade began at Markham School on the corner of B Street and First Street (now Foothill Boulevard) where the judging took place. The children, often in costume, with their pets or dolls in tow walked, rode bicycles or drove other vehicles along the parade route. Here, Betty Voss with her collection of dolls rides in her creatively decorated cart pulled by her painted pet donkey.

Exhibition print originally appeared in Past Times at the Hayward Area Historical Society.

• Framed


• Archival reproduction print from original photograph


• Overall frame size: 21 x 25.5"