Goldens galore at the Gold Rush parade in Rehoboth
The weather wasn’t cooperating, but the humans and their furry friends prevailed. Kim Bronakoski hosted the biannual Gold Rush again this year, as the sidewalks of Rehoboth Beach were awash in slightly damp golden fur and wagging tails Sept. 27. This event signaled the start of Dewey Beach’s annual Golden Jubilee held Sept. 27-28.
From puppies to sugar-faced veterans, golden retrievers of all ages and sizes stole people’s hearts, adorned in festive attire and flashing smiles that brought sunshine to the dreariest days.
The parade started at Lake Gerar Park, went down North First Street, onto Rehoboth Avenue eastbound, looped the Boardwalk’s sidewalk and went back west on Rehoboth Avenue before ending at Salty Paws, where dogs could get a frozen treat. It was a celebration of all things golden retriever.
Event organizer Kim Bronakoski said, “This event has always meant a lot to me, but became very personal when we lost our 10 1/2-year-old golden suddenly to hemangiosarcoma, a highly invasive canine cancer, in 2023 while vacationing together in Blackwater Falls, W.Va. Nothing is worse than coming home without our furry loved one. The anxiety of myself and others going through that, it has fueled a fire in me to help raise as much money and awareness as possible to eradicate this horrific disease.”
The event was free, but proceeds from the sale of merchandise went to the Morris Animal Foundation’s Golden Retriever Lifetime Study.
For more information, go to morrisanimalfoundation.org/golden-retriever-lifetime-study.
