Dog-Friendly Events
Discover meetups, festivals, yappy hours, and more happening near you.
Giant Breed Night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Unleashed's weekly Breed Night celebrates Giant Breeds and their humans. Bring in a Giant Breed dog and spin the prize wheel for a chance at prizes. All dogs are welcome at this indoor off-leash dog bar in the North Loop.
Downtown Skokie Pups & Purrs Pet Picnic
A pet-friendly outdoor festival in Downtown Skokie benefiting C.A.R.E. Bring your furry friend for an evening of picnic meals from local restaurants, live entertainment, pet activities, shopping, and giveaways — a fun summer celebration of pets, community, and local businesses.
Healing Hearts Rescue at White Bear Lake Marketfest – July 23
Healing Hearts Rescue booth with adoptable dogs and puppies at the weekly Downtown White Bear Lake Marketfest street festival.
Viking Lakes Bark in the Park
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue's ultimate social event for dog lovers at Viking Lakes in Eagan, featuring live music, a caricature artist, and adoptable dogs.
Chuck & Don's Summer Pawlooza – St. Paul
Chuck & Don's annual Summer Pawlooza — bring your dog in-store Saturday & Sunday, July 25–26 for frozen treats and summer fun.
City Paws Summer Festival & Dog Days
A community summer festival for families, dog lovers, and local businesses featuring pet-friendly vendors, games, food, and treats for pups. All proceeds benefit Retrieve a Golden of the Midwest Animal Rescue.
Taste of Lincoln Avenue Dog Parade
The 3rd annual Taste of Lincoln Avenue Dog Parade — watch pups strut their stuff (free to enter) in categories including Best in Show, Best Small Breed, Best Large Breed, Best Costume, and Best Rescue. Part of the Taste of Lincoln Avenue street festival.
Healing Hearts Adoption Event at Brühaven Craft Company
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Brühaven Craft Company in downtown Minneapolis. Come meet your newest family member over a pint — every adoption helps make room for another rescue in need.
Second Doggy Pool Party at Brew Park Plymouth
Brew Park's second summer pool party for dogs is back! Bring your pup and a towel — the venue handles the rest. There's no extra charge beyond normal admission (members get in free). Dogs must be registered with current vaccinations to splash around.
Rescue Puppy Yoga at Lively Athletics
A 45-minute all-levels yoga session practiced alongside adorable rescue puppies from Paradise Rescue. Attendees get a sponsor-filled swag bag and 20% off Lively Athletics purchases, plus time to meet and photograph the pups afterward. All proceeds are split between Moyo Village and Paradise Rescue to support their animal rescue missions.
Healing Hearts Adoption Event at HOM Furniture – Coon Rapids
Healing Hearts Rescue's Paws & Floors adoption event at HOM Furniture in Coon Rapids. Meet adoptable dogs and puppies looking for their forever homes.
PAWS Chicago Angels with Tails – Roscoe Village
PAWS Chicago's annual Angels with Tails returns to Roscoe Village. Adoptable dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens take over neighborhood storefronts as local rescue groups join PAWS to find homes for pets in need. Free, family- and dog-friendly community adoption event. Stroll the shops, meet adoptable pups, and support Chicago's homeless animals.
Spot's Last Stop Dog Adoption Event
Meet adoptable rescue dogs with Spot's Last Stop Canine Rescue at this taproom adoption event at Wandering Leaf Brewing.
St. Louis Park PetSmart Adoption Day Event
Ruff Start Rescue brings adoptable dogs, cats, and critters to the St. Louis Park PetSmart. Meet your potential new family member and chat with volunteers about fostering and adoption.
Summer Splash – The Dog Event of the Year!
Pet Haven of Minnesota's biggest dog event of the year! A splash-tastic afternoon at Pet Haven Headquarters with pools, adoptable dogs, vendors, raffles, and treats for pups and people. Family- and dog-friendly.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.