The annual Fort Collins-favorite Tour de Corgi celebrated its 11th year Oct. 4. This year, Tour de Corgi celebrated the legacy of rock music with their “Rock On!” themed costume contest.
According to the organizers, music was a central part of this year’s event.
“Fort Collins and the area, they love costumes and they love dogs and they love events,” said Malini Bartels, co-chair of Tour de Corgi. “It all just kind of came together. With the ‘Rock On!’ theme, it’s a tribute to Elway, our dogfather.”
Bartels recalled the festival’s origin story, when Tracy Stewart, the founder of Tour de Corgi, arranged a birthday party on Facebook, which accidentally went viral.
“Next thing we know, we have hundreds of people coming to our birthday party,” Bartels said. “It got shared and shared and shared.”
Tour de Corgi appeared to be a massive hit this year, with corgi owners traveling from all over the country to showcase their rocker dogs.
“We like to dress up and have fun as a family. It looks like it’s going to be bigger than ever.” –Ashley Rocha, Tour de Corgi attendee
“I think everyone’s just jazzed to be here,” said Melissa Narum, who traveled all the way from Gainsville, Florida, to showcase her pink-haired rocker. “Everyone’s just so passionate about the breed.”
Narum’s dog wasn’t the only rockstar, though. Dixie Stardust and the Many David Bow-Wow-Wowies took to the stage in glam rock makeup and attire, followed by a corgi with bat wings carried by somebody dressed as Ozzy Osbourne. Sparkling pink corgis represented the “pink corgi club,” one attendee said, and one dog even played the cymbals.
“We like to dress up and have fun as a family,” said Ashley Rocha, who was dressed as a taco with her corgi. “It looks like it’s going to be bigger than ever.”
Rocha was not wrong, as hundreds of corgis and their owners descended upon the City of Fort Collins.
The parade, which started at Civic Center Park, took a loop, going down Laporte Avenue to North College Avenue, eventually winding through Old Town Square and down Mountain Avenue. Fort Collins residents lined the sidewalks and filled local patios, cheering on the fuzzy procession.
Like previous years, the parade brought together the community of Fort Collins. Local businesses were packed, and vendors posted up in tents offering portraits for dogs, treats and grooming services.
“We have more people and more vendors than anything,” Bartels said. “This year we partnered with Visit Fort Collins, who helped us with some of the heavy lifting of reaching out to the influencers. They helped us a lot with promotion, and it just keeps getting bigger and better every year.”
Tour de Corgi seems to be chugging along and shows no signs of stopping in the future, especially following this year’s huge success. Bartels said she believes the festival is a good way for people to have fun and connect.
“Do you like to laugh?” Bartels said. “Do you like to have fun? That’s what Tour de Corgi is about. … If you like fur and you like fun, come to Tour de Corgi.”
And for those who missed this year’s event, Tour de Corgi seems likely to return for a 12th.
“Listen to all the barking, (and) see all the costumes,” Narum said. “Have a good laugh and have a good time.”
Reach Connor Sokolowski at life@collegian.com or on social media @rmcollegian.
