Last year’s Dog Festival was postponed — twice! — by rain.
Matthew Mandell — executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce, producer of the 4th annual event — has done his due diligence.
He made sure that this year’s rain fell in all of April, and continued through early this week.
Sure, there are a couple of pesky showers forecast for Sunday morning. But Mandell says they’ll clear out in time for every dog to have its day.
The Dog Festival is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Winslow Park. Fido’s favorite playground will be even more dog-gone fun on Sunday, with:
- Exciting demonstrations (police dogs, guide dogs, agility and training)
- Goofy competitions (best tail wagger, best dressed, best kisser, best trick, dog that most looks like its owner — all judged by state and local officials)
- Obstacle course (fastest dog wins a year’s supply of dog food)
- Kids’ activities (caricatures, face painting, etc.)
- Vendors
- Food trucks
- Adoptables
- Information about non-profits (including co-producer TAILS)
- Giveaways, and more.
New this year: a Frisbee catching and agility show, with tips on how to train your dog to do those tricks too.
This guy loved last year’s Dog Festival. (Photo/Dan Woog)
Also new this year: no parking at the Westport Country Playhouse. The lot is reserved for the “In the Heights” audience.
Instead, there’s easy access via the Saugatuck Congregational Church back parking lot (after 10:30 a.m.), private lots across the Post Road (with traffic agents helping to cross), and the Senior Center’s new gravel path to the Post Road (much closer than you think).
Every day — rain or shine — Winslow Park is filled with dogs. Here’s hoping that on Sunday — their special day — the only thing wet will be their noses.
(For more information, including how to sign up for competitions, click here.)
