Barktoberfest celebrates Halloween with a costume contest and treats — but not how you would think. On Saturday, Oct. 26, this event will celebrate our four-legged friends.
The Durham-based event will provide a place for dogs and their owners to show off their Halloween costumes while supporting local pet care services. Festivities will begin at 3 p.m and last until 6 p.m in Durham Central Park.
Durham Parks and Recreation and Beyond Fences, a Durham-based organization whose mission is to improve access to pet care resources, have once again joined forces to create Barktoberfest.
Their shared goal is to promote a dog-friendly community and to provide support services for people with pets in underserved areas.
Amy Pehowic is an organizer of Barktoberfest through the co-sponsor Durham Parks and Recreation.
“It’s important to give families a space where they can have fun with all of their family members. We think of our four-legged friends as part of our family,” Pehowic said.
The festival will include their Pet Market featuring many local vendors of pet-related items, such as CBD oils, dog treats and homemade dog beds. There is also the Fun Walk, a route through the park with various fun facts scattered throughout.
Lori Hensley is the director of operations for Beyond Fences, one of the co-sponsors of the event. She said she believes Barktoberfest is important to the Durham community.
“The money that we raise from the event stays right here in our community to help pet owners in accessing care for their pets,” Hensley said. “It’s a good way to get the word out about the need in our community that pet owners have in accessing that care for their pet, and how we bridge that gap and help them get that care."
