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2019 Dog-Friendly Texas Events & Festivals

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Looking for fun with your dog across the Lone Star State? We’re gathering dog-friendly Texas events and festivals on this growing list–and, if you have some to add, please email us at editors@dogtipper.com or leave us a comment below!

JANUARY

Jan. 1: AUSTIN: Hair of the Dog, Yard Bar, 6700 Burnet Road. Ring in New Year’s Day by helping to create the dawn of a new day for dogs and cats in need! Benefiting The Austin Humane Society, the Yard Barn’s annual party will include a variety of competitions for both pups and their people, including Hairiest Dog; Best Dog Beard, Mohawk and Hairstyle, as well as Best Dog/Owner Look Alike and Hairiest Dog Owner.

Jan. 5: HOUSTON: BYOD Houston Masquerade Pawty, Batanga Houston, 908 Congress Avenue. New Year’s Eve may have come and gone, but Rovers in H-Town are still reveling at Batanga! Celebrating Spots can sip “Woof Clicquot” (a Fido-friendly champagne) as their humans nom on latin tapas, check out a divine dog jewelry line, and pose with their pets for the “pup” arazzi! The fete for our four-legged friends benefits BYOD’s educational events on dog training. (Both two- and four-legged attendees are invited to don masquerade masks!)

Jan. 12: AUSTIN: Fun with Furiends: Launch Event, Cosmic Coffee + Beer Garden, 121 Pickle Rd., Set 111. Get in the game in 2019 and help dogs and cats in need! Celebrating the launch of the mobile game Furiends, this puppy party (which benefits Austin Pets Alive!) will include the opportunity for pet parents to freeze a moment in time thanks to a winter-themed photo booth for Fidos; giveaways for both people and pets; themed cocktails that help a paws cause; adorable adoptables, and much more!

Jan. 20: NEW BRAUNFELS: Dachshund Races. Krause’s Cafe and Biergarten, 148 Castell Avenue. Are you the pet parent of a sausage dog? If so, let your fleet-footed Fido make a dash for the finish line at Krause’s Cafe’s Dachshund Races! A free event, the stampede of tiny Spots also helps a good cause, with donations to food and supplies collected for the HSNBA.

Jan. 21: NORTH RICHLAND HILLS: Lone Star Brahmas Operation Kindness Pet Adoption Day,
NYTEX Sports Centre. If you are a sports buff whose New Year’s resolution is to welcome a four-legged friend into your heart and home, you can find your MVP (Most Valuable Pet!) during the Lone Star Brahmas Operation Kindness Pet Adoption Day. Once again offering an assist to the North Texas area’s oldest and largest no-kill shelter, the venue where the North American Hockey League team plays their home games will be the place where pups from Operation Kindness will get the chance to meet potential pet parents who will give them a forever home.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 9: AUSTIN: Austin DogPOP, Birds Barbershop on South Congress Avenue. At this “pup” up market event you and Bowser can browse among vendor booths brimming with merchandise for your barking buddy and tap your feet (or pat your paws!) to the beat of tunes spun by an Austin area DJ. Rover can also romp in a custom Dog Play Area.

Feb. 10: CEDAR PARK: Hoops ‘n’ Hounds. H-E-B Center. Basketball buffs and their barking buddies can cheer on the Austin Spurs as they take on the Salt Lake City Stars, and help a paws cause in the process! Players will don dog-themed jerseys for the game, which will be autographed and auctioned off to raise funds for Texas Humane Heroes. Potential pet parents will also get the chance to find their own MVP (Most Valuable Pet!) when they meet adorable adoptables from area rescue organizations on the concourse.

Feb. 13: THE WOODLANDS: Puppy Love, Kriser’s Natural Pet at 1925 Hughes Landing Boulevard. A pre-Valentine’s Day celebration for pups, families and their fur babies are invited to enjoy snacks, drinks and treats for our tail-wagging chums!

Feb. 16: PFLUGERVILLE: BarkHappy Austin Love is in the Air Pawty. Henricksen Jet Center, 6012 Aviation Drive. By February 16th Valentine’s Day will have come and gone, but don’t tell that to the tail waggers attending this Central Texas event, where dog devotees can show their love for Emancipet! Get free swag for Spot, pose for a photo with Fido in an APEX Flight Solution plane and much more.

Feb. 20: CEDAR HILL: National Love Your Pet Day Dog Hike, Cedar Hill State Park, 1570 FM 1382. Enjoy a one mile, Park Ranger- guided stroll with Spot at Cedar Hill State Park!

MARCH

March 2: AUSTIN: The 4th Annual Mardi Gras Dog Parade. A canine Mardi Gras parade, costume contests, adoptable pugs, and more.

March 9: NEW BRAUNFELS. Dog Rodeo. Costume contest, dog training tips, agility trials, small dog race and more create a day of fun at Fischer Park.

March 17: AUSTIN: SXSW Puppy Party. Lustre Pearl, 94 Rainey Street. Doggy photo booths, St. Patrick’s Day fun, and doggie snack samples from Austin-based Grocery Pup. Age 21 and up only.

March 23: AUSTIN: Mighty Texas Dog Walk.

APRIL

April 13: BROWNSVILLE: Pawty! The volunteer rescue organization Brownsville Animal Defense (B.A.D.) invites pet parents and their pups to a bash benefiting B.A.D.’s adorable adoptables! The day of play will include sketches of Spots as well as professional pet portraits, a canine costume contest and a Fido-friendly cupcake eating competition, yoga (or should that be doga?), a demonstration of dog dexterity from The Blazing Border Collies, and more!

April 14: Rowlett: Easter Pup-a-Palooza. Hop on over to the Scentral Bark Dog Park in Herfurth Park for a howliday event complete with an egg hunt that will be a real ‘treat’ for your dog; canine contests, including best dressed and best trick; and photos of Fido with the Easter Bunny.

April 14: SAN ANTONIO: Barkitecture San Antonio. Auctioning off unique dog houses, this event also features adoptable dogs, services by the San Antonio Humane Society, and more; dogs welcome.

April 20: Houston:
Puppies for Breakfast. Craving a good time for a good cause? Take your tail-wagging chum to this pupular yearly Houston happening, which includes tasty treats from a variety of food trucks, more than 50 vendor booths, play areas where Rovers can romp, an Easter-themed canine costume contest and much more during a day that benefits an animal rescue organization.

April 27: SAN ANTONIO: Fiesta® Pooch Parade. This a 2.6-mile dog walk in Alamo Heights is the major fundraiser for Therapy Animals of San Antonio.

April 27 – 28: Buda: Buda Wiener Dog Races. Taking place this year at Buck’s Backyard, tiny but mighty Dachshunds will make a dash for the finish line during a two-day festival in the Wiener Dog Capital of Texas. This year’s theme is “Game of Wieners!”

MAY

May 4-5: AUSTIN: POPCats, Palmer Event Center. It’s cat, not dog, centric–but we’ll have a booth for our PawZaar gift store here. Come by and say hi!

May 5: DALLAS: The Dog Bowl at the Cotton Bowl.

May 11-12: TAYLOR: Austin Pet Expo, Williamson County Expo Center.

JUNE

June 8: PLANO: Bark in the Park. Free event with music, freebies, demonstrations, raffle prizes, treats and more.

June 8: MANSFIELD: Barks and Rec 5k.

JULY

July 17-21: Houston World Series of Dog Shows, NRG Center.

July 27-28: San Antonio Pet Expo, Austin Highway Event Center.

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Oct. 4-5: BRYAN: Wiener Fest. Aggieland Humane Society’s annual salute to sausage dogs includes a blessing of the pets, costume contest, and several Dachshund dashes.

Oct. 5: DENTON: Dog Days of Denton. The dog days of summer may be over, but the Dog Days of Denton are just about the get underway! Celebrating its silver anniversary in 2018, the Fido-centric festival is a golden opportunity to enjoy a day of fun with your four-legged friend! Your canine companion could be deemed top dog in one of the festival’s many contests! Spot can show off his skills in the Pet Tricks competition, wow the crowd with his wardrobe choice in the Canine Couture Costume Contest, prove to the world that he’s the next “Paw”varotti in the Dog Singing Contests or a budding “Bark”yshnikov in the Dancing with the Dog Contest. Dogs can unleash their inner “Tyra Barks” or “Cindy Clawford” when they strike a pose for a souvenir “Glamfur” photo. Clap for the cleverness of canines during dog and trainer demonstrations. Peruse an array of vendor booths brimming with pet-themed products. Potential pet parents can meet adoptable fur babies from several area rescue organizations. A festival that helps our four-legged friends in need, pet food donations for the Denton Animal Shelter will be collected at the information booth.

Oct. 12: BEAUMONT: Dogtoberfest. Beaumont will transform into BOWmont as the city celebrates Spots with a Strut Your Mutt Parade, canine competitions including cutest dog, best dressed dog, biggest dog, most talented dog, best tail-waggin’ and a pet parent/dog look-alike contest, and more.

Oct. 12: CEDAR PARK: Cedar Bark Festival. Veterans Memorial Park,  2525 W. New Hope Dr. The free day of play in the park for a higher purpose includes a costume contest, a Pet/Owner Look Alike Contest, vendors, and more. A happening with heart, contributions including monetary donations, blankets, large towels, canned pet food, dog treats, kitten formula, heating pads and strong dog toys will be collected at the event’s information booth for The Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter. Proceeds from the Cedar Bark Festival will benefit the volunteer organization Friends of Cedar Bark Park, which improves the outdoor venue though donations, service project and maintenance.

Oct. 12: HOUSTON: Strut Your Mutt, Stude Park. Take steps toward the creation of a better tomorrow for animals with every step you and your tail-wagging walking buddy take at Strut your Mutt, the Houston edition of Best Friends Animal Society’s annual fundraising event. Join other people and pets who have a passion for compassion as they try to reach their goal of raising $300,000 for the paws cause. Along with the casual constitutional with your canine companion, the event will also include food trucks, vendors and Fido-themed fun.

TBA: Houston Pet Expo. Both the two- and four-legged members of your family can enjoy a two-day tribute to all our fiends with fur, fins and feathers. Event highlights include a pet costume contest, a pet talent contest, pet/owner musical chairs and the chance to meet adorable adoptables from various area rescues and shelters.

Oct. 19: FORT WORTH: Pit Bull Pride Day. Take a trip back in time to the days before dogs dubbed Pit Bulls were hounded by prejudice as Pinups for Pitbulls hosts a day filled with celebration and education.

Oct. 19: RICHARDSON: Pawtoberfest, Huffhines Park at 300 North Plano Road. Labs in lederhosen and Dachshunds in dirndls will proudly promenade in their apparel during the pet parade/costume contest as part of Richardson’s annual ode to Rovers, Pawtoberfest! A special Fido-centric feature during this year’s Huffhines Art Trails, the event will also include toe-tapping (and tail-wagging!) live tunes from a bevy of bands, a pet look-alike contest, vendor booths selling canine-themed keepsakes, tasty German treats for two-legged attendees, craft beers, and much more!

TBA: SAN MARCOS: Pet Fest. This puppy party in the park held for a paws cause (curbing pet overpopulation through spaying/neutering) includes pooch/pet parent contests, dog races, demonstrations for police K-9s and a dancing dog troupe, an interactive AKC rally course, a silent auction, live music, kids’ activities, pet adoptions, and much more! Proceeds benefit Prevent a Litter (PALS).

TBA: WACO: Dogtoberfest. Celebrating dogs and Deutschland, Waco canines are invited to wag their tails to an oompah beat at a street party benefiting the Animal Birth Control Clinic. The event will include outdoor games, a photo booth and a caricature artist to capture for posterity the happiness on your pet’s face, splash pools, and German food and beer for pet parents.

NOVEMBER

TBA: ARLINGTON: Enchant Christmas Paws n’ Claus.  A holiday present for pups, this humans only event welcomes canines for two special days. Fidos can get in a festive Christmas spirit alongside their families as they work their way through the World’s Largest Christmas Light Maze, enjoy live entertainment, visit Santa, and much more!

TBA: Dallas: Puss ‘n’ Pooch Jazz Night. Your dog will feel like one cool cat as his tail moves to the groove of hot jazz tunes! An event that has put a song in the hearts of animal lovers for the past seven years, the fundraiser for Dallas Pets Alive! will also include a silent auction and adorable adoptables who will be hoping to hear the words that will be music to their ears– “Let’s go home.”

DECEMBER

December: AUSTIN: Mozart’s Holiday Light Show, Mozart’s Coffee, 3826 Lake Austin Boulevard. As you cradle a cup of coffee that will keep your hands warm, the sight of Spot enjoying the twinkle of holiday lights outside of Mozart’s Coffee will warm your heart! For a special treat, the world’s first piano created from Christmas lights will play toe-tapping and tail-wagging holiday tunes!

Nov. 29, 2019-Jan. 5, 2020: JOHNSON CITY: Lights Spectacular. Watch your dog’s face light up when he sees the sparkle of thousands of holiday lights illuminating the beauty of this cozy Hill Country community. Highlights of the dog-friendly event (including one special canine night) include the lighting of the courthouse and the Lighted Hooves and Wheels Parade.

Dec. 14-15: DALLAS: Deck the Paws. Fair Park’s Centennial Hall, 1001 Washington. It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year to be in the Big D if you are a dog devotee! Deck the Paws is two days of festive, Fido-centric fun including photo opportunities for your four-legged friend with Kris Kringle, an interactive art exhibit for the culture-craving canine, a Picasso Paws Art Zone where creative canines can unleash their inner Dogas or Furrida Kahlo, Simba’s Barkery holiday dog bar, the North Texas Kids Paw-tastic Kids’ Zone, and more. A holiday happening with a lot of heart, Deck the Paws will help to make the season bright for Artists for Animals, DFW Pup Patrol and Operation Kindness.

TBA: PFLUGERVILLE: Santa Paws. A photographer’s camera can capture your canine companion with Kris Kringle when Santa Paws visits Pflugerville! The afternoon of merry memory-making also includes the chance for pet parents bid on items in a silent auction and wrap up Christmas holiday shopping as they browse among a bevy of vendor stalls. A holiday presentation for a paws cause, all of the proceeds form the event benefits Cuz i Matter Animal Rescue.