Dog-Friendly Events
Discover meetups, festivals, yappy hours, and more happening near you.
Small Dog Hangout at Brew Park Plymouth – Aug 15
Bring your small dog for a relaxed morning meetup at Brew Park Plymouth, an indoor off-leash dog park with a full bar. Small Dog Hangout is a chance for little pups to play and socialize off-leash while owners grab a coffee or a drink.
Bookstore Romance Day: Ruff Art Sessions
Celebrate Bookstore Romance Day at Lilliput Books with Ruff Art Sessions — bring your pup to help create a one-of-a-kind piece of art. Proceeds benefit PAWS Chicago, so you can shop, browse, and give back all at once.
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue at Saint Paul Park Heritage Days Festival
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue tables at the Saint Paul Park Heritage Days community festival, with adoptable dogs coming and going throughout the day. The festival also features a parade, craft fair, food trucks, live music, and family activities.
Cruising for Canines: 11th Annual Canine Cruise
Set sail with your pup on Chicago's First Lady for a 90-minute cruise along the Chicago River and Lake Michigan, benefiting Perfect Pooches Adoption Agency. Water bowls provided on board; well-socialized leashed dogs welcome (no retractable leashes).
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Chuck & Don's Edina
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Chuck & Don's Pet Food & Supplies in Edina. Come meet your newest family member and chat with the rescue's volunteers about adoption.
Dog Days of Summer: Pineapples, Paws & Purrs
Anderson Humane's Dog Days of Summer adoption celebration, featuring adoptable dogs, puppies, cats and kittens plus special summer adoption specials. A pineapple-themed weekend of paws and purrs for the whole family.
Safe Hands Rescue Meet & Greet at Makwa Coffee
Meet available puppies and adult dogs from Safe Hands Rescue at Makwa Coffee, a community-centered, dog-friendly coffee shop. Saturday, noon–2 PM.
5K Fun Run x Tanzenwald Brewing Co – 2026 MN Brewery Running Series
Untimed, dog-friendly 5K fun run/walk that starts and finishes at Tanzenwald Brewing in Northfield, with a post-run taproom celebration. Leashed dogs welcome. Part of the 2026 Minnesota Brewery Running Series.
Ruff Start Rescue Summer of Love Adoption Event at Mall of America
Large-scale adoption day at the Huntington Bank Rotunda in Mall of America with a sampling of adoptable dogs, cats, and critters from Ruff Start Rescue. Staff on hand with info on volunteering, fostering, and donating, plus a pet-supply donation drive. Free.
South Loop Doods August Rooftop Meetup
Bring your dood (and any dog-loving friends) to the South Loop Doods August rooftop meetup at Roosevelt Collection Shops. Expect off-leash playtime, downtown skyline views, and plenty of new furry friends.
SAYv Animal Organization's 6th Annual Yappy Hour
A dog-friendly fundraiser at The Bad Apple with drinks, bar snacks, raffles and adoptable dogs, all supporting SAYv Animal Organization. Grab your friends and your four-legged friends for a good cause.
Humble Hounds Dog Adoption Event at Wandering Leaf
Humble Hounds MN brings adoptable rescue dogs into the Wandering Leaf taproom to meet visitors. Stop by, meet the pups, and learn about adopting or fostering.
Senior Meet Up Night at Saint Bark
A relaxed evening celebrating senior dogs at Saint Bark's indoor dog park bar in Saint Paul. All ages and breeds welcome, but the spotlight is on older pups for gentle play and socializing. First-time visitors should register their dog beforehand.
Pilot Project Brewing: Dog Days of Summer
Celebrate the dog days of summer on the Logan Square patio every Tuesday in August. Each week spotlights a different breed — if your pup matches, score 15% off your tab — but all leashed, friendly dogs are welcome. Grab a patio spot and a local craft beer.
Can Do Canines Open House
Can Do Canines will host an open house on Tuesday, August 18, from 6-8 p.m., at its Can Do Canines campus. Potential clients, volunteers, or anyone who might be interested in supporting the organization is invited to attend to learn how an assistance dog changes the life of a person with a disability. Through a self-guided tour, attendees will be able to watch a trainer working with an assistance dog, hear from a dog host volunteer, talk with representatives from the volunteer department, pose questions to client services coordinators, and meet graduate teams from five types that Can Do Canines trains dogs: hearing, mobility, seizure, diabetes, and childhood autism. Also, the first 75 people in attendance will receive a frozen treat! There is no pre-registration for this event, though attendees will be asked to share some contact information when arriving. Can Do Canines strives to provide accessibility for all attendees. Please email [email protected] if you need an accommodation to attend this event.
Dog Days of Summer at Bachman's on Lyndale
Bring your furry friend to Bachman's on Lyndale to celebrate Dog Days of Summer — a tail-wagging day filled with treats, photo ops, paw-print art stations, live music, rescue adoptions, training demos, grooming services, and pet-focused vendors. Free and dog-friendly.
Breed Night: Pitbulls at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Big smiles, happy wiggles, and hearts of gold — it's Pit Bull night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops! Bring your pittie to the indoor off-leash dog park and bar for a themed breed night. Spin the prize wheel, grab a drink, and let your pup socialize with other pit bull fans.
End of Summer Puppy Party
Bartleby's Homemade Ice Cream sends off summer with ice cream, dogs, books, and bluegrass. Bring your dog for a special pup-friendly sundae and a sidewalk splash pool, plus a children's author reading and live local musicians. Free admission; 10% of proceeds benefit the Anti-Cruelty Society.
Fourth Annual LH Wooftop Pawty
The fourth annual dog-friendly rooftop celebration at LondonHouse Chicago, benefiting PAWS Chicago. Enjoy complimentary morning beverages, pastries, and breakfast sandwiches, plus puppaccinos and treats for your pup. Features photo ops, vendor activities, and live pet portrait sketching. Tickets $70/person.
Small Dog Hangout at Brew Park Plymouth – Aug 22
A relaxed morning meetup for small dogs and their humans at Brew Park Plymouth, an indoor off-leash dog park with a full bar. Saturday 9:30–11 AM. Registration via brewparkplymouth.com.
Anti-Cruelty Society – Clear the Shelters Adoption Event
The Anti-Cruelty Society joins NBCUniversal's nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign — adoption fees are waived for the day as they work to find loving homes for every dog and cat in their care. Stop by to meet adoptable pups and maybe take your new best friend home.
Summer Paw-ty at Pet Images Resort
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue's summer celebration at Pet Images Resort in Lake Elmo — featuring a doggy splash pad for some splashy fun, Nelson's Ice Cream to keep things cool, grilled cookout favorites, giveaways, dog training demonstrations, and adoptable pups to meet. Bring your dog for an afternoon of summer fun.
C.A.R.E. – Clear the Shelters Adoption Event
Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) takes part in the nationwide Clear the Shelters campaign with a special adoption event. Meet adoptable dogs looking for their forever homes and find your perfect match.
Safe Hands Rescue Meet & Greet at The Market at Malcolm Yards
Meet adoptable puppies and adult dogs from Safe Hands Rescue at The Market at Malcolm Yards, a Minneapolis food hall with a full bar and self-pour taps. Saturday, noon–2 PM.
Dog Days of Summer 2026 at Surly Brewing
Surly Brewing hosts Dog Days of Summer on Saturdays all summer, opening the beer garden stage to a local animal shelter each week for adoptions. Leashed dogs are welcome in the beer garden — come meet adoptable pups and enjoy a pint on the patio.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Brühaven Craft Company
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Brühaven Craft Company. Come meet your newest family member! Saturday, noon–2 PM.
Puppy Yoga at Yodega Benefitting Local Rescue Puppies
Stretch and chill with adorable adoptable rescue pups at this puppy yoga session at Yodega Yoga Studio in Logan Square. A portion of proceeds benefits local rescue puppies — bring your mat and your love of dogs.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Encore Mahtomedi
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Encore at Mahtomedi Assisted Living & Memory Care. Come meet your newest family member!
Spaniel Meet Up Night at Saint Bark
Calling all Spaniels! Join us for an evening of play, socializing, and connecting with fellow Spaniel owners at Saint Bark, Saint Paul's indoor dog park bar.
All Paws On Deck Adoption Event
One Tail at a Time teams up with Rockwell on the River and the Chicago Boat Company for a riverside adoption event. Meet adoptable dogs, enjoy reduced adoption fees, and qualifying adopters get a complimentary boat ride with their new pup. A relaxed, dog-friendly evening on the river.
Breed Night: Rescues! at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Every rescue has a story worth celebrating — it's Rescue Night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops! Bring your rescue pup to this indoor off-leash dog park and bar, spin the prize wheel, and swap adoption stories with fellow rescue-dog owners.
Bark in the Park at Viking Lakes with Coco's Heart Dog Rescue
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue heads to Viking Lakes in Eagan for Bark in the Park — a dog-friendly summer evening on the Vikings campus. Bring your leashed pup to meet adoptable rescue dogs, connect with fellow dog owners, and enjoy the outdoor space. Free and open to dogs and their people.
Goldzilla
RAGOM’s annual Fun Fair and Walk for Rescue—and one of the BIGGEST Golden Retriever events in America! All money raised supports our mission of rescuing and rehoming Golden Retrievers and Golden mixes of all ages.
Ruff Start Rescue's 16th Anniversary Celebration & Open House
Join Ruff Start Rescue as we celebrate an incredible milestone: 16 years of lifesaving work and more than 33,000 animals rescued! Join us on Saturday, September 19th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to celebrate Ruff Start Rescue's 16th Anniversary! This open house-style event is a chance to celebrate our history, impact, and future vision while connecting with our supporters. It is our way of thanking the fosters, volunteers, donors, adopters, and community members who made it possible. What to Expect Meet adoptable animals Food & Beverages Games & Activities Shop local vendors RSR merchandise for sale Silent Auction supporting Ruff Start Rescue programs Take a tour of our new expansion Donation Drive- collecting new and gently used pet supplies and food Admission is FREE, family-friendly, and open to all (donations welcome!). Whether you’re a long-time foster, first-time adopter, or passionate animal supporter, this event is for you. **Pet Policy: We kindly ask that you leave your resident pets at home, since we'll have adoptable animals on site. This helps create a safe, low-stress environment for the foster animals attending the event. Visit the Facebook Event for more details, as well as vendor and activity highlights. By attending this event, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken for Ruff Start Rescue marketing purposes.