Not quite in a Halloween mood yet? That’s fine, but mark your October calendar for the annual “Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites” and “DogFest Walk ‘n Roll Bay Area,” which will get underway at Oakland’s Jack London Square from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27.
The DogFest walk raises money to support Canine Companions for Independence, a national non-profit organization that trains assistance dogs, free of charge, for people with disabilities.
Boo! Bark, Brews + Bites is a fun-filled Halloween celebration for pets and their humans, filled with tricks, treats, frights and delights. Admission to the events are free, and area restaurants will be selling food and beer.
The celebration also will include live music, crafts for people and dogs, doggy treats, pet tricks, pet photos, caricatures and festival booths for adults, kids and dogs. Dogs can show off their (or your) Halloween spirit by competing in a costume contest. Representatives and recipients of Canine Companions also will be on hand to talk about the program and demonstrate how the service dogs work.
The walk covers about a quarter mile along the Jack London Square waterfront. Participants are encouraged to preregister for the walk and raise money for Canine Companions through donations.
Registering also assures walkers will be given branded bandanas for their dogs, and be entered in a drawing to received a year’s worth of beer from Lagunitas Brewing Company. Anyone who registers and raises $125 or more by Sept. 27 will receive a commemorative DogFest T-shirt on event day. Registration is open now at cci.org/DogFestBayArea.