Organizers of the 47th Annual Coon Dog Day in Saluda estimate attendance to have grown from 2009 and said the annual parade was bigger than in recent years.

This years festival included 45 vendors, 13 food vendors and five amusement vendors.

So many people came up to me and told me that we had something for everyone — and thats what we wanted, said Coon Dog Day Commissioner Leon Morgan.

One lady was here for the first time and she said, If this isnt America, I dont know what is. I liked that.

The winners of the Coon Dog Day Parade Float contest were:

Best Commercial Float Coonissippi Queen by Blue Ridge Paving & Grading. Honorable Mention Historic Thompson/Ward Store.

Best Civic Float Saluda Clogging Camp. Honorable Mention Army Re-enactment Group.

Most Original Coon to the Moon by Coon Dog Elvis. Honorable Mention Coon Jail by the United Kennel Club.

This years Coon Dog Day Royal Court included:

Queen Toshanna Miller; King Connor Auman; Princess Paige Boone; Prince Tristan Auman; Baby Princess Haylea Bradley; Baby Prince Nathaniel Harms.