Advertisement
Dog Days of Summer had its moment. This one's got sweaters.Barktoberfest is a full day in the park — our favorite fall beers on the board, a hot spiced cider that'll fix whatever October's doing to you, and a limited German-style dog on the menu that we're only making once.
And a whole lot for the dog.
The Wiener Derby. Our friends at 540 Weens are bringing the fastest low-riders in the 540 for a proper race. Heats, a final, and divisions for standards and minis. There's a senior parade heat too, because every good boy deserves a lap. Awards go to Fastest, Most Determined, and Least Interested in Racing — and that last one's the real crowd favorite.
The costume pack walk and contest. Dress the dog. Dress yourself. At 3:45 we line up, and at 4:00 the whole parade walks together before judging. Tank Mosley and the Obedience Kings crew are picking the winners across Best Duo, Best Pack, Best DIY, Best Beer-Themed, and Ruffaree's Choice. It's the Saturday before Halloween, so the costume's already in the closet. Use it.
The Monster Mutt Trail. Built with Old Dominion Humane Society, and the whole point is the dogs. Follow the trail through the park and every station along the way is hosted by an adoptable pup in a friendly monster costume — a mummy, a little vampire, a ghost who is mostly a bedsheet. Each one comes with a name, an age, and a volunteer who can tell you whether she's good with cats.
It's spooky to look at and calm to walk through. Pumpkins, hay bales, string lights, no fog machines, nothing that goes bump. Safe for nervous dogs and small kids both.
The trail ends at the ODHS table. That's not an accident.
Nose print pumpkin art. Your dog's nose, some non-toxic ink, a mini pumpkin. You leave with the most specific piece of art you'll own.
Pumpkin patch photos. Self-serve, all day, free. Tag us and we'll share the good ones.
Plus ODHS on site all day with adoptable dogs, local vendors throughout, and 6,000 square feet of off-leash park to run it all off.
Free to get in. Free park passes. Bring the dog, bring the humans, bring a little cash for the vendors.
Suds. Buds. Belly rubs. See you in the park.
Entry requirements: signed waiver, current vaccination records, dogs 4 months and older, spay/neuter for dogs over 7 months.
Advertisement
Event venue
1515 Olde William Street, Fredericksburg, VA, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.
Discover more events by tag
Dog in FredericksburgDog-shows in FredericksburgParade in FredericksburgBeer in FredericksburgBeer-festivals in FredericksburgOktoberfest in FredericksburgHalloween in FredericksburgCostume-parties in FredericksburgTrips-adventures in FredericksburgArt in FredericksburgKids in FredericksburgSports in FredericksburgParades in FredericksburgContests in FredericksburgPumpkin-patch in FredericksburgTrick-or-treat in FredericksburgGhosts in Fredericksburg