The Island City is running an election in which every candidate has four legs. Wilton Manors is choosing its first-ever Dog Mayor through a new city event series called Fur the People, and the next stop on the campaign trail is a free costume parade at Colohatchee Dog Park on Thursday, Oct. 22.

What Fur the People is

Fur the People is a brand-new series from the City of Wilton Manors Leisure Services Department built around the city's dogs. The premise is a mock election: local dogs enter as candidates, hit the campaign trail at a series of city events, and one of them becomes the city's first Dog Mayor.

The campaign opened on Thursday, Sept. 10, with a Campaign Kickoff Paw-ty at Colohatchee Dog Park, where owners learned how to enter their dogs in the race. That evening came with refreshments for the humans, treats for the dogs and free run of the dog park.

Bark the Vote and Costume Parade

The second event, Bark the Vote and Costume Parade, lands a week before Halloween. Owners are asked to dress their candidates in costume and bring them out to show off for the crowd in a parade, with the city billing it as a chance for the candidates to show their personality and campaign spirit. The city's flyer for the night, billed as Bark the Vote and Howl-o-ween Costume Parade, invites residents to come with their dogs, meet the top candidates in the race and stay for photo opportunities.

  • When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
  • Where: Colohatchee Dog Park, 1975 NE 15th Ave., Wilton Manors, FL 33305.
  • Cost: free.
  • Presented by: the City of Wilton Manors Leisure Services Department.

What the city has not said yet

The city's pages describe the two events and the goal, a first Dog Mayor, but do not yet spell out how votes are cast, when the winner will be announced or what the title comes with. Owners who want to enter a dog, or who want those details, can reach the Leisure Services Department directly.

How to go

Bring your dog in costume to Colohatchee Dog Park by 4:30 p.m. The event is free, and the city's flyer lists free refreshments for people and free treats for dogs. Questions go to Wilton Manors Leisure Services at (954) 390-2130.

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