Richmond Christmas Parade's grand marshal is a very good boy
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Panda Panda! The goodest Christmas parade grand marshal in all the land. Image: Courtesy of Ashley Dobbin Calkins Photography via the Richmond Christmas Parade
The grand marshal for this year's Dominion Energy Richmond Christmas Parade is a very good boy named Panda Panda!.
Why it matters: If you're lucky, you can adopt him or some of his furry friends after next month's parade.
Driving the news: Panda Panda! — yes, his name includes the exclamation mark — is a 1-year-old rescued pit bull mix leading the parade aboard a float alongside other adoptable pups, parade spokesperson Tara Daudani tells Axios.
Fun fact: He joins a colorful cast of nonhuman grand marshals, including Clifford the Big Red Dog, Snoopy, the Grinch and Nutzy and Nutasha, per an Axios review.
- This year appears to be the first time an adoptable rescue dog landed the honored top spot.
The intrigue: The job almost went to a cat.
- Organizers hoped to involve Francine, the celebrity feline at the Broad Street Lowe's where the parade ends. But Lowe's didn't want her to leave the store (obviously), Daudani says.
- So instead they organized a pet adoption event at the Lowe's hosted by Francine — and gave the grand marshal job to one lucky top dog: Panda Panda!
Want to meet him? RACC is hosting an adoption event after the Dec. 5 parade at Lowe's, 1640 W. Broad St., from noon to 3pm.
- Francine will be there to welcome the furry guests. Unless she doesn't feel like it, in which case, you'll likely find her napping inside.