Fort Collins is preparing for an invasion this weekend with short legs, long bodies and wagging tails.

The 10th annual Tour de Corgi, a gathering and carnival parade of corgis, begins at 8 a.m. SaturdayOct 5, 2024in Civic Center Park and through the streets of Old Town Fort Collins.

Founded in 2014 by Corgi owner Tracy Stewart as Colorado’s answer to Southern California’s famous Corgi Beach Day, Tour de Corgi (a playful nod to Fort Collins’ Tour De Fat) has grown into the largest Corgi gathering in the state each year Attracts hundreds of participants.

For the uninitiated, Corgis are known for their unique appearance – short legs, long bodies and pointy ears.

They rose to fame as beloved pets of the late Queen Elizabeth II and have since become internet darlings due to their playful nature and adorable dullness.

According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, Corgis were originally bred to herd cattle and are intelligent, loyal and full of charm. The two types of Corgis are the Pembroke and the Cardigan Welsh Corgis. Cardigans have larger, longer bodies, rounded ears and long tails and come in brindle and merle colors. Pembrokes are more compact, have pointed ears and typically docked tails, with coat colors such as red and sable.

This year’s theme for the Tour de Corgi, “Corgolympics,” promises a showcase of dog costumes inspired by various sports, athletic achievements and the Olympic spirit.

Here is the updated schedule for Saturday’s festivities:

Tour de Corgi 2024 schedule

Saturday, October 5, 2024:

8:00 a.m – Provider setup

9:00 am — Registration, meetings and concession stands open

10:00 a.m – The costume competition begins

12:00 p.m – The parade begins at Civic Center Park

2:30 p.m – The event ends

The public is welcome to visit Civic Center Park and explore the dog sales booths. Please note that all adults must wear a wristband to participate in the parade or costume contest. Wristbands and a limited supply of stickers and short-sleeve unisex t-shirts will be available on the day of the event.

The costume contest at this year’s Tour de Corgi begins at 10 a.m. in Civic Center Park. Wristbands are required for adult participants. Contestants are encouraged to get creative as Corgis compete in categories such as “Utterly Creative,” “Purdiest,” “Nastiest to the Bone,” “Funniest Furry,” “Greatest Group,” “Outstanding Olympian,” and “Outstanding Olympic Team.” “Compete against each other.”

After the competition, the judges deliberate, followed by the awards ceremony. The event will culminate with a parade through Old Town Fort Collins, which is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m.