Local Lowdown: Woof-Tastic Dog Festivals and Events for April

Apr 2nd 2010

Welcome to Local Lowdown, where we give you ideas for hanging with your hound (and kitty!) in your home city. We'll tell you about interesting local events, important activities, useful resources and other fun happenings all across the country. And feel free to help us do a better job by writing in with suggestions for local events near you.

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While there are fabulous Easter egg hunts and parades for dogs to enjoy this weekend, there's no reason you can't look ahead and plan your dog's social calendar for the month of April. Spring is in the air, and dogs across the country are ready to play. That means it's time for some of the biggest and best dog events the nation has to offer all year!

Here are events in: Austin, Tex.; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas, Tex.; Davis, Calif.; Portland, Ore.; Raleigh, N.C.; San Diego, Calif.; and Winter Park, Fla. If your town isn't mentioned here, be sure to search online or check your local newspaper or magazine for ideas.

Austin, Tex.
Join thousands of dogs and their people on April 17th at the 12th Annual Mighty Texas Dog Walk and help to bring the Guinness World's Record for "Largest Dog Walk" back to Texas. The three-mile stroll though downtown Austin benefits the Texas Hearing & Service Dogs and every dog gets a gold medal at the finish line. Expect lots of doggie socializing since the current record and number to beat is 10,272 dogs!

Charlotte, N.C.
The April 24th Bark in the Park Dog Festival includes contests, shopping, entertainment and the highlight, the Pooch Parade of Adoptable Dogs. Charlotte's premier dog event, Bark in the Park was enjoyed by 14,500 people and pets last year.