Mardi Growl Knoxville 2024

Mardi Growl Knoxville 2024

Mardi Growl is a unique event for your fur babies! Your favorite pet party takes over Knoxville for one of the most fun parades in the USA.

• Visiting Knoxville for a Mardi Growl or special occasion? Book your stay close to Market Square, just steps from the city’s top tourist attractions and the Mardi Growl events.

The Event

• Knoxville’s Mardi Growl is a party for dog lovers everywhere. The event raises funds for the Young Williams Animal Centre and attracts dog lovers from across the state and beyond for a fun day of parades, competitions and parties.
• The parade features hundreds of costumed dogs and puppies making their way through the downtown streets of Knoxville in a blaze of colour, ribbons and more.
• Mardi Growl’s pet parade and costume contests will kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade route begins in the Old City and ends in Market Square.
• Stay at The Oliver, rated “Superb” by guests with a modern fitness centre, spacious rooms and highly-rated breakfasts. The hotel is close to all the Mardi Growl events.

The Route

• Mardi Growl parade begins on Willow Avenue in the Old City and winds to Jackson Avenue.
• The route turns south onto Gay Street, passing by a judges’ viewing stand at Krutch Park, and then turns onto Clinch Avenue to finish at the pet party on Market Square.
• The atmosphere is quite crazy during the event. And it is not just the pets who are costumed. Many owners don elaborate matching costumes while marching bands provide live music throughout the parade. Doggies disco, anyone?

The Pet Costume Contests

• The Pet costume contests are the most enjoyable part of Mardi Growl. Categories include Best Vol Spirit, Best Dawg Pack, Pet/Owner Look-a-like, Best Dog Couple, Most Unique Mixed Breed (Mutt), Best Costume and Best Naked Dog.
• The contests are broadcast on TV news stations across the state, and the event has received international media attention. Contest winners are announced at 12:30 p.m. on the Market Square stage.

Pet Party

• Visit the pet party in Market Square from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event includes more than 80 vendors, food trucks, face painting, live music and contest winner announcements. Several pet-related vendors will take part in the event and rescue groups with adoptable pets.

Mardi Growl Cajun Crawl

• Downtown Knoxville restaurants, bars and businesses are offering specials and events in the week leading up to Mardi Growl.
• The specials and events began on Feb. 28 and will continue through Saturday. Previous participants have included King Cake doughnuts from the Back Dough at Lonesome Dove, Mast General Store, and New Orleans cocktails from Oliver Royale and others.

Recommended Hotels

Here are the hotels we recommend with good reviews, close to all the action:

The Tennessean,  Crowne Plaza Hotel,  Graduate Knoxville,  Hyatt Place Knoxville.