- December 8, 2025
Cosmo dresses as Batman and Savannah Banana Hollywood Hound Genius Barrett Gailey Princess dresses as Superwoman. Photo by Paige Wilson
Archer shades the paparazzi. Photo by Paige Wilson
Daughter and father dogs Gizmo and Bentley sport camouflage costumes. Photo by Paige Wilson
Sammy was the face of this year's Dogapalooza, as artist Mandy McAlmont painted a portrait of her. Photo by Paige Wilson
Susan Cole dresses in a dog onesie to join in on the fun. Photo by Paige Wilson
Frankie the Australian shepherd dresses as a pirate. Photo by Paige Wilson
Arianna Costello watches the dogs around her greet each other. Photo by Paige Wilson
Heidi the great dane predicts no more winter in her Groundhog Day themed costume. Photo by Paige Wilson
Elvis dresses as a hot dog. Photo by Paige Wilson
Dogapalooza Judge Sherry Barrett Gailey poses with Nancy Lohman and her festive dog Snowball. Photo by Paige Wilson
Princess Daisy greets her royal subjects. Photo by Paige Wilson
Crime-fighting team Montey, as Batman, and Hershey, as Robin. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident Sarah Graves poses with Nala. Photo by Paige Wilson
Great danes Tiki and Isis show off their western attire. Photo by Paige Wilson
Kashmire is ready to bless the crowd with holy water while dressed like the Pope. Photo by Paige Wilson
Mandy McAlmont adds touches to a personalized dog portrait. She is the artist who painted Sammy, the retriever who was the face of this year's Dogapalooza. Photo by Paige Wilson
Turner, a basset hound/bulldog mix, walks by in plaid. Photo by Paige Wilson
Hutch is ready to save the day as Spiderman. Photo by Paige Wilson
Four-legged versions of the Pope, Batman and Robin, and a princess with her pirate were among the costumed dogs that strutted around the hound parade at Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s fourth-annual Dogapalooza on Saturday, Jan. 13.
The event originated four years ago based on an art show at the museum called Dog Days of Summer. Each year, the museum donates the profits from Dogapalooza to two local charities that are working to help furry friends.
Museum Director of Marketing and Membership Melissa Frankel said she wants to raise $2,000 this year, doubling last year’s earnings, to benefit Great Dawg Rescue and Halifax Humane Society.
“It is the best feeling,” Frankel said. “I was so excited to wake up and know that there was going to be hundreds of people here, all here for a good cause. It’s not for anything but giving money back to these two charities that support Ormond Beach so much through rescuing dogs — dogs that are maltreated.”
Two winners — one large and one small dog — were each crowned for best costume. The large dog category was won by Heidi, a great dane dressed as a groundhog who predicted no more winter. Kashmire, the small dog winner, rode around in a holy stroller dressed at the Pope.
The judges were Barbara Cady, who works with Florida Hospital Hospice Care’s pet program called “Pet Peace of Mind”; Paige Wilson, the community editor at the Ormond Beach Observer; and Sherry Barrett Gailey, a member of the HHS visionary team and the board of directors for OMAM.
“Dogs and their owners are family, and what better way to celebrate at a festival than with family?” Frankel said. “It’s an organic way of having a festival, having fun and honoring those furry canines that we love so much.”
