bethlehem doggie day

Bethlehem's annual Doggie Day is returning to Halloween season.

(lehighvalleylive.com file photo)

Bethlehem's annual Doggie Day is returning to Halloween season.

The Downtown Bethlehem Association has returned the event and its Mutt Strutt parade to the fall after a plan to hold it in the spring didn't work out. Participants thought pavement temperature could be too hot for the dogs during the proposed June date, association Manager Tim Brooks said.

Doggie Day has now been set for Nov. 2, with the Mutt Strutt dog parade happening at 1 p.m.

"We're very excited it's going to happen," Brooks said. "Being right after Halloween, the Mutt Strutt parade is appropriate."

The event, which also features dozens of pet vendors, runs from 12 to 3 p.m. on Main Street in and near the Sun Inn Courtyard at 556 Main St.

Parade registration starts at 11 a.m. in the courtyard; prize categories include pet-owner lookalike, movie-related, best group and spirit of Bethlehem. There's a suggested $10 registration fee for the parade with the proceeds benefiting a local animal shelter. More information can be found here.

Bethlehem's annual Halloween parade is scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 26. The parade starts at 10th Avenue and West Broad Street, turns on Main Street and wraps up under the Hill-to-Hill Bridge.

The parade's rain date is Nov. 2. If the rain date is needed, the Mutt Strutt parade will be held earlier to accommodate the Halloween parade, Brooks said.

Bethlehem's trick-or-treating will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Lynn Olanoff can be reached at lolanoff@express-times.com. Follow her on Twitter @LynnOlanoff. Find Bethlehem news on Facebook.