Pet Events in Maryland & DC – October & November 2023

Updated Oct 2, 2023

Hey there, pet lovers! Looking for something fun to do? We’ve rounded up a list of the area’s best events and activities for pets and pet-loving people in DC and Maryland. We’ve got yappy hours, pet festivals, pet-friendly Halloween activities, pet adoption events, and more for you to choose from.

Know of a pet event in the MD/DC area that’s not on the list? Click here to tell us about it. We’d love to include it!

Saturday, October 7

2nd Annual Mutt Strutt & Pups in the Park Celebration

11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Lansburgh Park | 1098 Delaware Ave SW, Washington, DC

Are you looking for a fun way to explore SW with your dog? We will walk a two-mile loop around the neighborhood, ending in Lansburgh Park for a party! Planned activities include: Pet Costume Contest, Pet Photographer, Pet Caricature Portraits, Face Painting for the Kids, Tiger, MPD’s Canine Pup, Raffle Prizes, Pet-Friendly Vendors, Live Music by Mario!, AND MORE!

Doggy Noses & Yoga Poses

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue | 17106 Ridge Rd, Upperco, MD

Come join in the fun! Yoga Flow with Adoptable Dogs and Fundraiser Event sponsored by Sacred Paws, Reed’s rescue, and Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue. We will raffle off gift baskets too! There will be many breaks throughout the class to create an opportunity for love to be shared between you and the adoptable dogs. RSVP by 10/4 at give@aaha-rescue.org.

Sunday, October 8

Blessing of the Animals

10:00 am – 11:00 am
Christ Episcopal Church | 109 S Washington St, Rockville, MD

Bring your furry friend to church for a special service and pet blessing. Montgomery County animal shelters will also be joining us and will have pets for adoptions and fostering. We are collecting dog/cat food, treats, toys, and towels for the shelters!

Howl-O-Ween Dog Photos

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Black Flag Brewing Company | 9315 Snowden River Pkwy, Columbia, MD

Join Adopt a Homeless Animal Rescue for Howl-O-Ween! Come enjoy delicious beer, treats and get spooky dog (or kid) photos with a monster. This event is free, but please sign up at: http://bit.ly/Howloween23 so we can accommodate as many people as possible and make it a fun experience for all. We will also be working to accommodate walk-ins as we can.

Blessing of the Animals

3:00 pm
Takoma Park Presbyterian Church | 310 Tulip Ave,Takoma Park, MD

There will be a service for blessing the animals in front of the church. We’ll be blessing our furry, not-so-furry, and even slithery friends in this brief warm, welcoming, light-hearted ecumenical service. We are hoping this will be a community event, so invite your friends and neighbors.

Saturday, October 14

Dogfest

11:00 am – 4:00 pm
Baltimore Humane Society | 1601 Nicodemus Rd, Reisterstown, MD

Join us for a doggone great time and help support the animals at Baltimore Humane Society! Pups and their people will have a blast with games, activities, contests, and prizes. There will also be a vendor marketplace, a wide variety of delicious food and treats available for purchase, as well as pet-themed arts & crafts, face painting, and a bouncy house for the kids!

Howl-o-ween @ Newark Street Dog Park

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Newark Street Dog Park | 3851 Newark St NW, Washington, DC

Join us for a pet costume contest with prizes, refreshments from Bluestone Lane and giveaways sponsored by Small Door Veterinary and more — all in support of the Newark Street Dog Park. Come for tricks and treats while we raise funds for the local dog park. This event is free for all to attend and enjoy.

Pet Parade – Halloween Costume Contest for Pets

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Centennial Park, Main/South | 10000 Clarksville Pk, Ellicott City, MD

Dress up your furry, feathered or scaled family members and show them off. Pets judged on fashion/costume, presentation, behavior, and use of props. Extra points for special skills or tricks. Winners receive gift cards or prizes.

Sunday, October 15

BARCS in the Barn Adoption Event

12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Manor Hill Brewing | 4411 Manor Ln, Ellicott City, MD

BARCS is bringing their Waggin’ to the farm with some adoptable animals. Walk around our Private Event Barn and meet, hold, and pet all of the furry friends! Their staff will be on site to answer any questions about helping to place these loving animals in their forever home. There will also be BARCS merchandise for sale (proceeds benefitting BARCS) and a craft for the kids.

Thursday, October 19

YAPPY HOURS @ Union Market

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Union Market | 325 Morse St NE, Washington, DC

Enjoy discount beers, wine, and cocktails while your pup snacks on complimentary treats. Shop pet centric maker pop-ups!

Saturday, October 21

Fall Dog Day 2023

9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Oak Hill Cemetery | 3001 R St NW, Washington, DC

Oak Hill Cemetery’s Fall Dog Day is quickly approaching! This opportunity only comes twice a year! Bring your furry friends to Oak Hill for a day of romping and roaming around the cemetery grounds! This is a FREE community event, with donations accepted towards our Bigelow Iron Fence Restoration Along R Street.

11th Annual Critter Crawl – A Costume Contest for Your Pets

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Homestead Gardens | 743 W Central Ave, Davidsonville, MD

Join us for the 11th Annual Homestead Gardens Critter Crawl! It’s a fantastic chance to showcase your pet’s Halloween spirit, compete for incredible prizes, and support our local SPCA of AA County. Sign up now until October 20th. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity!

36th Annual Bark Ball

5:30 pm – 10:00 pm
Washington Hilton | 1919 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC

Join Humane Rescue Alliance for the 36th Annual Bark Ball with your canine companion. We are excited to celebrate the animals, people, and community that make up the HRA community – which includes you. This year’s event will include our annual seated-dinner gala with music, food and beverages (vegan), and even treats for the pups.

Sunday, October 22

Donuts with Doggies

10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary | 10717 Tulip Ln, Potomac, MD

Join Sixx Cool Moms, PetConnect Rescue, and Rosie’s Farm Sanctuary for a morning of donuts with adoptable doggies!

Hirshhorn Howl-O-Ween

Sunday, October 22, 11:00 am–12:30 pm
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden | Independence Ave SW & 7th St SW, Washington, DC

Join us for a morning of dress-up, art activities, and furry fun at our annual costumed celebration for dogs and their whole family. The one time of the year when visitors can share art encounters with their well-behaved pets, Hirshhorn Howl-o-Ween invites dog owners and dog lovers of all ages to the Museum’s Plaza for a pre-Halloween party, featuring: breakfast snacks, coffee, mimosa bar, dog-friendly treats, Halloween-themed art making for humans and peanut butter “paw-traits” for dogs, a seasonal family photo booth.

Harbor Halloween 2023 Pet Pawrade

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm
National Harbor Plaza Stage | 150 National Plaza, National Harbor, MD

Our Harbor Halloween fun is for the whole family, including your pets! Get them dressed in costume and register for the Harbor Halloween Pet Pawrade. Prizes will be awarded for best costume, most creative costume and more in each weight category.

Wednesday, October 25

Paw-o-ween

4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Ballenger Creek Dog Park | 5420 Ballenger Creek Pk, Frederick, MD

A Halloween Party for the Pups! Enjoy an evening of tricks and treats with your furry, four-legged friend, at the Ballenger Creek Dog Park. Your pooch will have an opportunity to run free in one of our off-leash areas, compete in a costume contest, and make new friends. Paw-o-ween also provides great opportunities for families to sample dog related products and visit exhibit booths.

Thursday, October 26

Howl-O-Ween

6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Fairmont Washington DC Georgetown | 2401 M St NW, Washington, DC

Fairmont’s Canine Ambassador, Georgie, invites you and your canine companion to stop by for Fairmont’s 12th annual Howl-O-Ween. Prizes will be awarded to costumed doggies for most creative, most adorable, funniest, and honorable mentions. Humans can purchase spooky canine-themed cocktails along with Puptails and Doggie Dinners for all four-legged guests.

Saturday, October 28th

BARCStoberfest

7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Patterson Park | 27 S Patterson Park Ave, Baltimore, MD

BARCStoberfest is an annual, large-scale, pet-friendly festival and fundraiser that benefits the lifesaving programs and animal care at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS). This family-friendly event includes our popular 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk, a pet-friendly beer garden with live music, Halloween costume contests, a local food truck rally, yoga with your dog, a shopping market and so much more.

Howl-O-Ween

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Clipper’s Canine Cafe | 8407 Main St, Ellicott City, MD

With a donation of $15 cash (per dog), which will be donated to the local rescue Pitties and Purrs Rescue Inc, you will receive a list of participating Main Street businesses and visit the stores to receive your pup’s treats. Trick-or-treating is from 12-3 and ends across the street, where the Costume Contest will begin promptly at 3:15. There will be four categories: Cutest, Funniest, Best Ensemble and Most Original Homemade with amazing prizes for the winners!

Canines on the Creek: Doggy Parade & Costume Contest

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Carroll Creek Amphitheater | Frederick, MD

Dress up you and your pooch in your best Halloween get up for the opportunity to win prizes and giveaways! There will be exhibitors, demonstrations, food, and prizes. All proceeds benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind. Donations welcome!

Sunday, October 29

Tails on the Rails

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
B&O Railroad Museum | 901 West Pratt St, Baltimore, MD

Come best dressed with your pup to the B&O this Halloween for an evening of tails on the rails. There will be a costume contest with prizes, a 3pm train ride, activities under the pavilion, free pet photos, and a “Yappy” Hour for all the adults in the building.

Saturday, November 4

Comics For Critters

7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Perry’s Restaurant | 1210 Annapolis Rd, Odenton, MD

Get ready to laugh at “Comics for Critters” – a comedy event to benefit the SPCA of Anne Arundel County! The feature comic for the evening will be Alexx Starr from Starr Struck Comedy, and other performers include Kevin Johnson, Keenan Frady, Grace Jane White, and more!

Thursday, November 16

Santa Paws Pet photos with Santa

5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Point In Fells | 1738 Thames St, Baltimore, MD

Santa Paws is coming to town! He will be at The Point in Fells for a fun Yappy hour event! 🎅🏼 🎁 There will be pup meals for the doggies and spooky drink specials for the humans! Your $25 ticket gets you a fun filled goodie bag for your pup, your pet photo and your first cocktail from the specials menu free! We will have some raffle baskets, giveaways, and more fun surprises! Don’t forget, we also offer a free Pup meal with the purchase of an entrée!

Saturday, November 18

Montgomery Parks Holiday Barket

11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Cabin John Regional Park Address | 7400 Tuckerman Ln, Bethesda, MD

Pet owners and lovers! Kick off the holiday season with your pup at the Park. Bring your blanket and relax on the lawn as you listen to rock music by Capital Effect at the amphitheater stage. Pose with your dog and the Grinch and take home a fun photo memory. Enjoy cider, gluten-free beer, and delicious food. Learn about local pet services. Pick up a few treats and treasures for holiday gift-giving to your pet-loving friends or their furry companions. Explore the Cabin John Regional Park Dog Park or opt for a calming, scenic walk around the park on the Cabin John Trail. This is event is FREE. All ages are welcome!

Lucky Dog Bingo to Benefit Ronnie Stanley Foundation

2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 69 | 2832 Nine Mile Cir, Catonsville, MD

Please join us for our first annual LUCKY DOG BINGO. All proceeds from this event will go to the rescue dogs of Ronnie Stanley Foundation. Founded by Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl Left Tackle, Ronnie Stanley, our mission is to bring his dream to life – helping dogs help people. We match rescue dogs with individuals that could benefit from an emotional support dog or companion dog. We provide them with everything they need to get started (crate, bed, food, toys, etc.) as well as some basic training. With events such as this, we are able to rescue more dogs and help more people in need!