It wasn’t until the early 20th century that dogs moved from the farm to the backyard, one step closer to a loved companion but still not quite there. Then in the 1960s, dogs finally graduated from the backyard to the bedroom, largely due to the invention of flea collars and other pest control options. This is when dogs really became part of the family.
Humans’ bond with dogs only continues to grow with each passing year. Through research and experience, we witness their poetically unconditional love and loyalty. What’s more, their intelligence has made them so trainable that they provide priceless services to us, like helping people with disabilities or mental illnesses to increase their quality of life.
It’s no wonder then, that around the world, people hold numerous festivals celebrating the greatness that is dogs. These eight dog celebrations have set the bar pretty high in terms of honoring our furry best friends.
Frankenmuth Dog Bowl
Frankenmuth Dog Bowl began in 2008. Out of the small town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, this annual dog festival celebrates dogs with more than 25 activities. The idea is to showcase their talents, like retrieving, jumping, and diving, all the while giving them an incredibly fun and exciting day that will leave them smiling themselves to sleep when it’s over. Frankenmuth Dog Bowl is free to attend, so the whole family can celebrate dogs without worrying about it breaking the bank.
Woofstock
What began in the early 2000s as a small celebration of dogs has grown exponentially in recent years. This should come as no surprise, given how much we humans love our dogs. Woofstock advertises itself as the largest dog festival in North America, and it’s probably not a lie. Every year, tens of thousands of dogs and their human companions come to the beaches of Toronto to celebrate man’s best friend. The party takes place over two days jam-packed with talent shows, contests, dog fashion, and booths full of luxury canine products. While the event is currently on hiatus because of COVID-19, it is sure to return with a bang when it becomes safe to do so.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Festival
It might seem like an event called the “World’s Ugliest Dog Festival” is not a very positive way to celebrate dogs. However, the whole point of the event is to advocate for the adoption of all animals and show their unique beauty. All dogs, no matter their looks or pedigree, deserve a loving home, after all. This festival takes place at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, and has gained international recognition over the last several years. The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest was even featured on Netflix’s Pet Stars.
Diwali
Diwali as a whole is a five-day celebration of lights that originated in Nepal and is observed by Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains. The second day of Diwali celebrates Kukur Tihar, also known as “Day of the Dogs.” It is a day of dog worship, where pets and strays alike receive gifts and humans decorate them with flowers and garlands. After a traditional ceremony, the dogs are then given a variety of treats, such as meat, milk, eggs, or really any food they like. The tradition stems from Hindu mythology, where a dog follows a man on his spiritual journey. The two form such a connection that the man refused to enter heaven if his dog couldn’t come with him.
Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade
The only thing cuter to a dog lover than a normal dog is a dog in a costume. At Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade in New York City, humans adorn their canine companions in some of the most creative costumes the world has ever seen. Every year, the parade includes hundreds of pooches dressed up for thousands of spectators to goggle at. The event also includes a variety of costume contests, including best pop-culture reference, scariest costume, best senior costume, best group dog costume, and best dog + dog person costume. The winners of each contest can expect some pretty great prizes, too.
Saint Roch
On August 16th every year, Bolivia holds a religious celebration of dogs. The church of Villa Adela in the city of El Alto near La Paz hosts the feast of Saint Roch with a mass to honor the patron saint of dogs. According to legends, Saint Roch came from Italy in the 14th century to care for victims of a plague. It is said that the dog that accompanied him saved his life by licking his wounds and bringing him bread after coming down with the plague himself. Now, people and their dogs take to the streets of El Alto en route to the parish every August 16th. Part of the festivities includes vaccinating the dogs who attend the ceremony, to fight the issue of the massive overpopulation of street dogs in the country.
Dog Surf-A-Thon
To raise money for street dogs, Helen Woodward Animal Center hosts an annual Dog Surf-A-Thon at Del Mar Dog Beach in Rancho Santa Fe, California. The event consists of dogs on surfboards competing for various titles. They’re judged on things like how long they can stay on the board, confidence, creativity, and enthusiasm. One of the crowd-favorite events is the tandem rides where humans get on the board with their dogs, sometimes in costumes. The Dog Surf-A-Thon first began in 2005, and it’s still going strong, donating 100 percent of proceeds to orphan dogs in need.
Vanderpump’s World Dog Day
A relatively new dog celebration, the Vanderpump Dog Foundation began World Dog Day in 2016. Its entire focus is to celebrate the beautiful, warm, loving creatures that dogs are. Furthermore, the event aims to raise awareness internationally about dog abuse. Vanderpump’s World Dog Day takes place in Los Angeles, California, and typically hosts thousands of people and their dogs alongside pet-centered vendors, live entertainment, dog yoga, and other doggie-centric activities. Some notable attendees over the years have included Iggy Azalea, Leona Lewis, Emma Norton, and Lance Bass. The efforts of the foundation have led to the rescuing and re-homing of more than 2,300 dogs.
Corgi Con
Corgi Con is an annual celebration of corgis that takes place in San Francisco on Ocean Beach. Filled with tons of fun dog activities, including corgi races, a costume contest, and agility courses, hundreds of corgis and their owners get together to celebrate this beautiful short-legged breed.
Jess Lakritz 