Dog-Friendly Events
Discover meetups, festivals, yappy hours, and more happening near you.
Pug Night at Saint Bark
Calling all Pugs! Join Saint Bark for a Breed Night celebrating these lovable, playful companions. All breeds are welcome — a different breed is simply highlighted each time. Bring your pup to the indoor/outdoor dog park bar on Snelling Ave for an evening of play, socializing, and making new furry (and human) friends.
Puppy Playtime & Smol Dog Night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Bring your little one to Minneapolis's indoor off-leash dog bar. Puppy Playtime runs 5–6 PM for pups aged 3–6 months, followed by Smol Dog Night 6–8 PM for dogs under 30 lbs — supervised socializing, zoomies, and drinks for the humans.
Pups & Trivia Night
A dog-themed trivia night at Pup Social. Gather your team and your pup for multiple rounds of questions on breeds, famous dogs, pet care and fun canine facts, with prizes for the top teams while dogs socialize during supervised off-leash play. 21+; up-to-date Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella records required. Humans without a pup may enter free with a valid State ID and completed waiver.
Dinner for Rescue Pets at Stanley's Northeast Bar Room
Dine-to-donate fundraiser with Midwest Animal Rescue & Services (MARS). Stanley's Northeast Bar Room donates 10% of sales to support rescue pets — no tickets required, just come dine (dogs welcome on the patio) and help homeless animals. A relaxed evening out for Twin Cities dog lovers.
Dog Portrait Day
Bring your dog to the Casket Arts Building for a professional portrait session that captures your pup's personality in a cozy studio setting. Sessions run throughout the evening.
Healing Hearts Rescue at White Bear Lake Marketfest – July 30
Healing Hearts Rescue brings a booth of adoptable dogs and puppies to the weekly downtown White Bear Lake Marketfest street festival. Stop by to meet foster pups looking for their forever homes — leashed dogs welcome.
Dog's Night Out at Gallagher Way
Bring your pup to Gallagher Way for a post–Cubs game paw-ty featuring dog vendors, giveaways, pet portraits, and dog-friendly activities. Donations support local rescues.
Safe Hands Rescue Meet & Greet at Park Tavern
Safe Hands Rescue brings adoptable puppies and adult dogs to Park Tavern for a public meet-and-greet. Attendees are asked to sanitize hands between litters to protect unvaccinated puppies; check the rescue's social media that morning for which dogs will be attending.
Kick off to National Dog Month!
Celebrate the start of National Dog Month at Pup Social with an afternoon of community, vendors, food, wellness, and off-leash fun. Enjoy professional pet photos, wellness activities, shopping, and the chance to meet local pet businesses while your pup socializes.
6th Annual Pet Central Block Party
A kid- and dog-friendly summer block party featuring a dog pool and splash pad, a discounted vaccine clinic, raffle baskets, local artists, photo ops, kid games, food trucks, and homemade treats for pets and people.
Healing Hearts Adoption Event at Spikes & Houles – Forest Lake
Meet adoptable dogs and puppies from Healing Hearts Rescue at Spikes & Houles Feed, Seed & Pet Supply in Forest Lake. Bring the family and find your newest four-legged family member!
Dog Days of Summer at Surly Brewing – Aug 1
Surly's beer garden hosts Dog Days of Summer on select Saturdays for animal adoption events, featuring a partnering rescue plus vendors. Bring the family and meet adoptable dogs. Well-behaved, leashed pups welcome in the beer garden.
Healing Hearts Adoption Event at Trove Brewing – Burnsville
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Trove Brewing in Burnsville. Grab a pint on the patio and meet your potential new best friend.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Chuck & Don's Wayzata
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to the Chuck & Don's Pet Food & Supplies store in Wayzata. Come meet your newest family member!
PAWS Chicago Foster Open House
PAWS Chicago invites the public to a Foster Open House at its Lincoln Park Adoption Center. Meet select dogs and cats in need of foster homes, learn how fostering works, and take an animal home the same day — a great low-commitment way to help save lives while giving a shelter pet a break from the kennel.
Breed Night: Terriers at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Calling all terriers! Bring your scrappy pup to Unleashed Hounds and Hops for a terrier-themed Breed Night at Minneapolis's indoor off-leash dog park and bar. Meet other terrier parents while the dogs play off-leash.
5K Fun Run x Forgotten Star Brew Co
Run, walk, or jog a scenic 5K-ish course along the Mississippi River with your leashed pup, then celebrate at the finish line at Forgotten Star Brewing. Part of the 2026 MN Brewery Running Series.
Chicago Dachshund Lovers: 2026 Dachshund Derby
The wiener dogs are back! Chicago Dachshund Lovers hosts its annual Dachshund Derby at Midwest Coast Brewing — an afternoon of dachshund (and wiener-mix) races and activities benefiting Dachshund World Charities. Watch heats of low-riders sprint for glory, shop local vendors, and grab a beer on the patio. Free for spectators; racers register in advance.
Healing Hearts Adoption Event at Spikes & Houles – Stillwater
Meet adoptable dogs and puppies from Healing Hearts Rescue at Spikes & Houles Feed, Seed & Pet Supply in Stillwater. Stop by to say hello to the pups and learn about adopting or fostering.
Pub 42's Woofstock
Pub 42's Woofstock returns — a dog-friendly patio party with food, craft beer, Tito's, live music by Mark Stary, giveaways, samples, a charity raffle, and adoptable dogs. Free Pub 42 dog bandanas while supplies last.
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.
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.