For those who believe there are no bad days when you come home to a dog’s love, Under the Harvest Moon in downtown Dowagiac has just the event for you.

Deb Rohdy, owner of the new Bow Wow Bakery & Bath in downtown Dowagiac, will present the fall festival’s Parade of Halloween Hounds on Saturday, Oct. 10.  Hosted by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, this community’s autumn celebration also features a display of new and vintage farm tractors and an outdoor marketplace of more than 30 vendors of handmade goods, produce and baked goods, and offers a full day of fun for families.

Rohdy, who is a retired employee of Dowagiac Union Schools, opened her new business last week at 145 S. Front St.

“Having my own business is something I have always wanted to do,” Rohdy said.  “Downtown Dowagiac is thriving right now. Participating in the fall festival is a wonderful opportunity for me to meet people and for others to become acquainted with the new store.”

Participants of the Parade of Halloween Hounds will each receive a sample snack packet of Rohdy’s homemade dog biscuits.

“If you don’t have a costume, you can come early and preview our line of Halloween scarves for dogs,” she said.

The Parade of Halloween Hounds is open to children, adults and families that would like to dress up their dog in Halloween attire and parade them on Front Street.  Participation in the parade is free of charge.  Pet owners will gather outside Bow Wow Bakery & Bath at 11 a.m.  Participants will parade Front Street and compete for best costume.

“Pet lovers go out of their way to find the perfect costume for their dog,” Rohdy said.  “Our judges are excited to see this year’s creative costumes.”

Corporate sponsors of the festival are: Creative Vinyl Signs, local grower Charlie Dohm, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Kim MacGregor’s office of Edward Jones, Fifth Third Bank, Forest Glen Assisted Living, Hale’s Hardware, J&H Oil Company, Leader Publications, Mennel Milling Co. of Michigan, Preferred Printing, Skibbe Business & Tax Service, Smoke Vision Care, Southwestern Michigan College, Town & Country Garden Club and Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service.

For a full list of activities, to register for commercial booth space or to make arrangements to place a vintage farm tractor on display, visit www.DowagiacChamber.com or call the Chamber at (269) 782-8212.