Looking Forward to Autumn with Your Pup? Make Plans for Cooler Days Ahead!
It’s time to start dreaming about fall fun with your furry friend. Check out these upcoming dog-friendly events in and around Cincinnati, and mark your calendar.
Bonus: check out the adoption event and fundraiser that benefits Animal Friends Human Society at the end.
Dog-Friendly Event 1:
Yappy Hour at Washington Park
The first Wednesday of the month is a celebration of all things canine at Washington Park, Cincinnati’s second-oldest park. And these gatherings are free!
In September, the theme is Bark to School:
“Attention teacher’s pets! Bring your good-est pups out for a bark to school photo shoot against the beautiful backdrop of Washington Park.”
October is time for TAIL-gating:
“Today is all about celebrating the Orange & Blue – oh, and furry friends too! Yappy Hour meets FC Cincinnati Pre-Match at The Park presented by ProLink for this mid-week paw-ty! Bring out your pup in their most fetching FCC gear to celebrate in the park!”
Wednesday, September 6, 2023 Wednesday, October 4, 2023 6PM – 8PM
Washington Park
1230 Elm Street
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Dog-Friendly Event 2:
Dogs and Doughnuts at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
The final dog-friendly event of the year, October 5 is Adoption Day at Dogs and Doughnuts. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Pyramid Hill describes what to expect:
“Bring your furry family along to craft pet-friendly treats & treasures, enjoy light refreshments, and take a walk around the beautiful 300+ acres of Pyramid Hill at our Dogs and Doughnuts series.”
Sunday, October 1, 2023 10AM – 2PM
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum Pavilion
1763 Hamilton Cleves Road
Hamilton, OH 45013
Dog-Friendly Event 3:
Pink Your Pup at Fretboard Brewing
Bring your dog to this breast cancer awareness celebration and fundraiser– all while getting to enjoy Fretboard Brewing’s new Factory 52 location. Admission is free, and all proceeds benefit the Karen Wellington Foundation.
“Enjoy delicious food from Angilo’s Pizza. There will also be a gift basket raffle, a pink-out dog costume contest, and of course the pink-colored strawberry blonde ale, ‘Reba’, on tap!”
Thursday, October 5, 2023 4PM – 7PM
Fretboard Brewing Norwood
2750 Park Avenue, Suite O
Norwood, OH 45212
Bonus: Ales for Tails Adoption Event and Fundraiser
The 6th annual Ales for Tails dog-friendly event by Animal Friends Humane Society is happening soon. It includes half-off adoption fees and on-site microchipping for your pet.
“This is not an event you are going to want to miss! This 9 hour long event is full of fun for your two and four legged family members!”
Saturday, September 9, 2023 12PM – 9PM
Municipal Brew Works
20 High Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Check out these three activities for outdoor fun all summer long. There are plenty of date options to fit your schedule. We just love pet-friendly events!
Dogs & Doughnuts at Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park
Enjoy a stroll through the 300+ acres of beautiful Pyramid Hill Sculpture park with your pup! Plus, enjoy light refreshments (like doughnuts!) and a special craft activity each date.
Price: Included with Park admission (Free for members, non-members are up to $10/person)
June 3: Joni Fleming will draw complementary caricatures of you and your pup(s)
July 1: Craft activity TBA
August 5: Craft activity TBA
October 1: Adoption event with Animal Friends Humane Society
Saturdays from 7-9:30 PM, bring your family and pets to to this Lawrenceburg, IN winery for an outdoor music festival, featuring different artists each evening. Bring a picnic and enjoy a wine tasting. Here are a few of the musical acts on the schedule:
June 3: Mark Scheper, Trop Rock, Beach Boys
June 10: Josh Wells, Acoustic Classical Country
June 17: Ethan Hopper, covers and originals
June 24: Boomerang, cello, guitar and violin trio covers 70s-90s
At the Barn Winery
4152 N Dearborn Road
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
Washington Park Dog Park: Washington Park, across from Music Hall, offers a fenced-in dog play space. It features a water feature, cement and artificial turf (so no mud!)
Sharon Woods Park: Hike beautiful trails with your leashed pet. There are plenty of wooded and lakeside areas.
Simmonds Family Dog Park: A park designed just for dogs! Four fenced-in areas for small dogs, large dogs, agility and all dogs.
We are so excited that Santa took a couple hours out of his busy schedule to visit with our patients! Here are a few of our favorite shots from the day.
Help Animal Friends Humane Society & the Animals in Their Care
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month is a great time to support our local shelters. Check out these fun events from Animal Friends Humane Society.
October 19: MacKenzie River Pizza
Dine in or take out from the Fairfield location of Mackenzie River Pizza on Wednesday, October 19, and 20% of the price of your meal will be donated to Animal Friends Humane Society. Make sure to print out the Community Night Voucher and show it to your server.
Check out their menu to get some ideas. We think the street corn nachos sound pretty tasty. There are also some yummy-looking take and bake pizza options.
This is a truly special raffle. Four of the animals at Animal Friends Humane Society required hospitalization in September, and 100% of the proceeds will go towards their care.
And the prizes are pretty spectacular. The raffle is valued at $775, but really, it’s priceless. Win a professional portrait of your pet, a beautifully-unique fine art print from Iris Scott and a tasting at Napa Valley vineyard Pope Valley Winery.
You don’t even have to leave your home to win. The raffle will be drawn during a Facebook Live event October 25. Tickets are sold until October 24.
Santa is coming to Animal Friends Humane Society to spread some Christmas cheer! Professional portraits with Santa will be printed off for you while you wait, and the prices are very reasonable. Also, adoptions will be 50% off during the event.
Companion Care Animal Hospital has invited Santa to take pictures with pets in the past, and it’s always been a lot of fun! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get a wonderful holiday keepsake, all while helping out animals in need.
From Artsy to Zany, See What’s Happening in the Cincinnati Area
Looking to get out of the house to do something fun? We’ve found these unique and interesting gatherings in the Cincinnati area.
Make a Blown Glass Pet Bowl
Neusole Glassworks is a glass art studio open to the public, located in Forest Park. They cater to all ages and skill levels.
Join glass blowing artists as they guide you in making a beautiful bowl for your pet’s water or food. There’s even an option to emblazon your pet’s name on the bowl! This event runs through August 2022.
MadTree Brewing in Oakley hosts this Harry-Potter themed event. Enjoy craft beer while a professional artist guides you in painting a one-of-a-kind likeness of your pet.
You’ll submit your pet’s photo ahead of time, and an artist will sketch it on canvas. The event is Saturday, August 20, 2022.
Bring your best bud to Great American Ballpark for a memorable game! Enjoy pregame activities (and maybe a hot dog). Remaining Bark in the Park games are August 16 and September 12.
It’s time to register your dachshund for Oktoberfest Zinzinnati’s Running of the Wieners. Registration is limited to 100 dogs, so hurry! The race is September 16, 2022 and is always popular.
Originally scheduled for January, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has been rescheduled for June 18-22, 2022. Over the course of the event, competitions will include:
Masters Agility Championship
Masters Obedience Championship
Breed Judging for Hounds, Herding, Toy, Terrier, Sporting, Working, and Non-Sporting breeds
Junior Showmanship
Best in Show
Westminster by the Numbers
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show has seen dogs compete for 146 years.
This year, there are two new breeds recognized by the AKC who are participating in the Westminster show. They are Mudi and Russian Toy:
“A medium-sized, versatile farm dog from Hungary, the Mudi is a loyal protector of property and family. Originally bred to herd the most stubborn sheep and cattle, the breed is courageous, alert, and intelligent. The are a true working dog with a wavy-to-curly, self-cleaning coat and a gait that covers a lot of ground. The Mudi is joining the Herding Group.
“The Russian Toy is a small, squarely built toy dog that is elegant, athletic, and cheerful. A favorite breed of the Russian aristocracy, the Russian Toy can have a smooth or long coat. Their large round eyes and high-set ears contribute to their bright, attentive expression. The Russian Toy is joining the Toy Group.”
The total number of breeds entering Westminster this year are 211, wow!
How to Watch the 2022 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
Starting June 18, watch free live streaming on westminsterkennelclub.org or the WKC App. FOX Sports is also covering various events of the show.
This 1960 WKC show features a booming announcer describing English Springer Spaniels, Weimaraners, Boston Terriers and more. (and a Cincinnati dog takes home Breed Honors!)
The month of June has a lot going for it. The weather is fine, school is out… and it’s Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month! Take the family to these two Animal Friends Humane Society events to meet some wonderful cats (and dogs) looking for fur-ever homes.
June 11: PetMobile at Hamilton Flea
Animal Friends Human Society’s PetMobile visits Hamilton Flea every second Saturday from June 11 through September. Enjoy shopping the market and visiting with animals… maybe you’ll even find just the friend for you.
Saturday, April 23, 2022 – 9AM
2 S Main Street
Middletown, OH US 45044
“A race to honor Kara Goheen, A true champion of all four legged friends. Proceeds from this event will go to the Karah Goheen’s Friends and Furballs Fund, that will be used to keep her Dog Days Downtown Festival going, along with other “pet” projects that benefit Middletown animals.
“This race has gone to the dogs! All awards will be reserved for our four legged friends. First through Third place winners in two weight divisions, under 50 lbs and over 50 lbs. All four legged participants will receive an official participation award!”
Act fast if you want a custom race t-shirt – the deadline is April 8th.
You and your dog can join the Queen City Flying Pig Marathon tradition! All finishers of this two-mile course receive a medal, mylar blanket, and all registrants get a t-shirt, poster and virtual goodie bag. Prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers.
Various Dates and Times in April
Cincinnati Bass Pro Shops
If competitive walks aren’t your thing, take your pet to the pet-friendly Bass Pro Shops and get your portrait together with the Easter Bunny on certain weekends in April. Reserve a date and time for your photo, and it’s a quick and easy trip!
We’ve also heard that Bass Pro Shops offers pet portraits with their moms for Mother’s Day!
Sunday, May 1, 2022 – 11AM or 3PM
3301 Madison Rd
Cincinnati, OH 45209
Send photos of your pet to an art instructor, who will sketch them on a canvas. At the event, learn how to paint the sketch to make an amazing portrait of your pet! Note that you must be 21+ to participate in this event at MadTree Brewing in Oakley.
Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays – Late Morning
Animal Adoption Foundation
2480 Ross Millville Rd
Hamilton, OH 45013
Volunteer to walk enthusiastic shelter dogs who need exercise! This one-hour session is certain to be fun.
“On premise walking paths allow you to get as much exercise with a dog as you want in a 1-hour session. Or choose to spend time with a dog in the dog play yards.”
Harry Whiting Brown Community Center
205 E Sharon Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246
“Join us in supporting the third annual Glendale Barktoberfest! This event will include a fun and learning-filled day promoting the Village Of Glendale’s doggie residents and their owners. Dog lovers inside and outside the community are welcome! Come on your own or bring your pooch for even more fun!”
MadTree Taproom
3301 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209-1132
“Have you always wanted to paint the perfect picture of your beloved fur baby while drinking delicious craft beer? Now is your opportunity!
This is a pre-sale and reserved seating event for patrons 21+ only. Indoor table seating and limited side patio seating will be available.
Tickets are $45/person and are required to attend this event. Please arrive on time and note that photos of your pet must be submitted to the instructor prior to the event!”
Ault Park Pavilion
5090 Observatory Circle, Cincinnati OH 45208
“Love Cincinnati craft beers? Join us for Hallow Eve Brew Bash! Your ticket includes ten (10) five-ounce tastings from some of Cincinnati’s top Microbreweries.”
On Facebook, organizers clarify that pets and kids are free:
“Kids and pets are welcome at the HallowEve Brew Bash Friday October 22 free of charge. There will be an arts and craft table equipped with coloring books and gourds for the kiddos to decorate! Tickets for adults are $10 off through October 18 and get you ten (10) plentiful beer tastings from all your favorite local breweries (including seltzers). ALL proceeds of the event benefit Ault Park.”
“Enter your dog in our first annual Dog O Ween Costume Parade. We are partnering up with Myles Ahead Animal Sanctuary to help raise funds for Dexter, the amazing search and rescue dog. Registration must be completed through the Eventbrite link by Friday, October 22nd to enter your dog. The entry fee is $10 per dog and all proceeds go to Dexter’s fund for treatment.”
Voice of America MetroPark
7850 VOA Park Drive, West Chester Township, OH 45069
“‘Bark’ your calendars for a fun filled day celebrating the cute canine friends in our community. Look forward to a costume parade, trick-or-treat trail designed for both you and your dogs, an obstacle course, vendors, and more!
Smith Park
500 Tytus Avenue, Middletown, OH US 45044
“Calling all dog walkers/runners and halloween enthusiasts! PAWS presents the Zombie Walk & Furry 5k! This Halloween is going to the dogs! Your pups can expect all of their favorites, Treats, exercise, Toys, new pals to sniff and of course the cutest costumes! Humans can expect cute keepsake finisher awards for their pets, door prizes raffles, and costume contests!”
If you’ve never witnessed 100 Dachshund dogs in hot dog costumes furiously running to come in first– you’ve never been to Oktoberfest Zinzinnati’s Running of the Wieners.
But this event is back for 2021! Don’t miss your chance to attend The USA TODAY Sports+ Running of the Wieners. It’s free to watch, but you can also register your Dachshund to compete.
Thursday, September 16 at noon Freedom Way at The Banks
“The USA TODAY Sports+ Running of the Wieners ist back and will feature 100 dachshunds racing on Freedom Way at The Banks, between Walnut and Rosa Parks Streets. Each dog will wear its provided hot dog bun costume while running approximately 75 feet, in heats of ten, to its owner waiting at the finish line. The winners from each heat will compete in a final race to determine the winning wiener! Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place dachshunds.”
This traditional kick-off to our city’s fine Oktoberfest won’t disappoint!
