16 hours ago
Fourth of July festival in Louisville keeps 'old-fashioned' feel alive for 40 years
Sneaking patches of shade under towering trees in the yard of a local landmark, dozens of dogs, and their owners, gathered Friday morning for a decades-long neighborhood tradition.
A young girl dressed as Dorothy from 'The Wizard of Oz' and her little dog waited alongside another pup donning a pie outfit for their big moment.
Beyond the trees and portable bowls of water for sipping or dipping, you could find attendees perusing the book sale, shouting 'We won!' at the cake wheel (where participation costs a quarter), standing in line for a balloon animal or crowded together on the front porch of the historic Peterson Dumesnil House.
There's something retro-esque about the Crescent Hill Fourth of July Festival, even with additions like a booth from West Sixth Brewing Company.
'It's almost like a family reunion,' Erin Klarer, acting president of the Crescent Hill Community Council, told the Courier Journal. 'It's a kind of connection you don't get online.'
Klarer says the math is 'fuzzy,' but organizers think this marked the beloved event's 40th year.
And the charm wouldn't beam as bright without the annual pet contest, where the battle boiled down to categories such as 'most precious,' 'pet/owner look-a-like' and "most admirable adoption story.' The 'senior citizen award' went to a 20-year-old, and a four-legged songster who yapped for a few seconds won 'best pet talent.'
Tara Bassett, who has emceed the pet pageant for 30 years, called the show like a sports broadcaster, while making time on the mic to promote local animal shelters and animal rescue.
'These judges are making decisions that could impact the lives of these pets forever,' Bassett cheekily announced at one point.
You couldn't tell under his straw hat and red sunglasses, but Shane Hall might've been sweating how his pair of dachshunds would fare in the 'most pet'riotic' category.
He and his wife, Jade, didn't need to fret about their furry friends, named Motley Crue and Maple Lou.
Their likenesses to George Washington and Betsy Ross earned the top prize of 'best in show.'
Like many festival-goers, the Hall family lives just a short walk away from the event.
'This is kind of an annual event for us,' Shane Hall, who has lived in Crescent Hill for 15 years, said.
And Motley Crue, a 7-year-old dog whose back injury keeps him mostly in a stroller, is a repeat champion of the pet contest.
'You know, people love their pets, so when you include them, I think it just makes for a really good celebration,' Hall said. 'It brings everybody together.'
During her first year as chair of the pet contest, longtime Crescent Hill resident Jane Emke handed out prizes and admired all the creative costumes, including one dog painted with spots to resemble a leopard.
'I love it, because it's low key,' Emkee told the Courier Journal. 'It's like an old-time festival, like it used to be.'
Bassett agrees, recalling when the event was actually called the Old-Fashioned Crescent Hill Fourth of July Celebration.
'It still has that old-fashioned neighborhood feel,' she said. 'It brings just a lot of joy to our neighborhood.'
Reach reporter Amanda Hancock at ahancock@
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Fourth of July festival in Louisville celebrates tradition of 40 years
