29th Annual Northport Dog Parade
August 8th, 2026

2026 Theme
Pawty Like a Rockstar!

Benefitting Canine Causes

The Annual Northport Dog Parade is a fun yearly tradition. The committee picks a theme each year and prizes are awarded for various categories at the end of the parade. Past themes have included “The Wizard of Oz”, “Alice in Wonderlab, Through the Woofing Glass”, and “Canine Couture”.

Registration and sponsorship fees help cover the expenses incurred to make it possible to hold the parade and most importantly, contribute to local animal shelters and dog care for people who are in need. This year’s beneficiaries include the Great Lakes Humane Society, Cherryland Humane Society, The Fisher Fund, and Leelanau Christian Neighbors (Pet Food).

If you would like to make a donation separate from registration or sponsorship, please use the button below. Thank you for your support!

Announcing The 2026 Grand Marshall (Posthumously):
David Chrobak

The Northport Dog Parade Board is honored to name the late David Chrobak as the 2026 Grand Marshal, posthumously.

As founder of the Northport Dog Parade, David's vision, creativity, and commitment to the Northport community established a tradition that has brought people together for nearly three decades. His passing in 2025 marked the loss of a beloved community member, but his legacy continues to be celebrated through the event he created in 1996.

David originally conceived the parade as a way to attract visitors to Northport and support local businesses during the summer season. Known for his boundless energy and civic-minded spirit, he was the owner and innkeeper of the Old Mill Pond Inn Bed & Breakfast and the Pot 'O Gold resale shop in the heart of the village. Throughout the community, David earned a reputation as a creative force and enthusiastic advocate for Northport.

The true inspiration for the parade, however, came from David's beloved dog, Cydnee, a Boston Terrier-Beagle mix who served as the official greeter at the Old Mill Pond Inn. Born in the Northport area in 1993, Cydnee quickly became a familiar and beloved presence in the village. When the first Northport Dog Parade stepped off in 1996, Cydnee was named Grand Marshal—a role he proudly held for the parade's first fourteen years until his passing in 2008.

Today, the Northport Dog Parade remains one of the community's most cherished traditions, welcoming thousands of participants and spectators each year. In recognition of David's lasting impact, the parade's highest honor, awarded annually to the Grand Champion, is known as the David Chrobak "OG Award."

As the Northport Dog Parade celebrates its 30th year in 2026, it is especially fitting to honor the founder whose imagination, dedication, and love of dogs created an event that continues to bring joy to generations of residents and visitors alike.

The Northport Dog Parade gratefully remembers David Chrobak and celebrates the enduring legacy he leaves behind.