5 Reasons to go to the award-winning Dogstival
9th Apr 2024 Animals & Pets
3 min read
A day or weekend of fun for you and your dog, make sure you treat both yourself and your pet by heading to the New Forest for Dogstival in early June
This
June around 10,000 dogs are expected to descend on the pooch paradise of the
New Forest for an event that is staged purely for their enjoyment. The event is
Dogstival—the utterly brilliant doggy festival, which takes place on Saturday
1 and Sunday 2 June.
Whether
you are a pet parent or an avid dog lover, here’s five reasons why you should
go to this year’s Dogstival and be part of their fun-loving pack.
1. Dogstival is officially the "Best Pet Day Out" in the UK
Now in their sixth year,
Dogstival has been recognised as top dog for four-legged fun in the Animal Star Awards.
"Dogstival has been recognised as top dog for four-legged fun in the Animal Star Awards"
Bag yourself a ticket so you
and your pooch can discover what all the tail-wagging fuss is about.
2. The location is Best in Show!
Having always been staged in the
uber dog-friendly New Forest, Dogstival is back in their spiritual home of
Burley Park, which boasts a gorgeous open space, with a beautiful backdrop of
ancient trees, Burley Manor and a neighbouring deer sanctuary for you to admire
and enjoy. The village of Burley is a dream too, with its quaint cafes,
charming shops and free-roaming ponies and donkeys.
From boutique hotels, cosy
cottages through to glamping, the New Forest itself is bursting with dog-friendly
accommodation, making Dogstival the perfect excuse for a petaway if visiting
from out of the area.
3. There is loads of stuff for your dog to do
This year, Dogstival leads the
pack as having the most "have a go" activities than any other doggy festival in
the UK. Whether your dog would be trying them for the first time or a seasoned
pro, they can partake in all manner of dog
sports… flyball, agility, a Scurry Village and Barkour (a giant canine
adventure playground), as well as water-based fun in the diving and splash
pools.
"There will be a daily Paw-lympics ceremony for highest achievers"
In a nod to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, this year's activity comes with
a twist—speed and agility challenges with leader boards and a daily "Paw-lympic" ceremony for each category’s highest achievers.
Additionally, the Top
Dawg Show Ring is all about crowd participation inviting dogs of all
shapes, sizes, ages, and breeds to strut their woof to win a host of fun titles
and in aid of Dogstival’s charities.
4. You will never be bored
Beyond the have-a-go activity,
Dogstival is
buzzing! Prepare to be dazzled by displays in the Naturo Main Arena, such as the Paws For Thought
Display Team, who bust out the best canine tricks and games; and the all-action Little
Nippers & Terriers Racing, where dogs are welcomed into the arena for canine
chaos chasing the lure. Bringing another Olympic sprinkle, expect to see working
dogs from the police, fire services and search and rescue battle it out in the
ultimate challenge of scent work and agility in the Battle of the Sniffers!
"Prepare to be dazzled as the Paws For Thought Display Team bust out the best canine tricks "
At the Dogfuriendly Muddy Paws Tavern, you can enjoy dog beer and treats over expert
talks, barking bingo, the Big Pup Quiz, heaps of breed meet ups and Dan the
Hat Circus Skills & Comedy Show. Further entertainment comes in the
form of
the double-decker
Boogie Bus Bar and the Hound
Dog Music Stage
playing soul, blues, Motown, folk, country and pop classics.
And should you need a little break, there’s also lots of
spots around the event to rest your paws, soak up the brilliant atmosphere or
sneak in a cheeky nap to recharge for the next go-round of Dogstival fun.
5. Food glorious food!
No festival is complete without food and for both hound and human,
Dogstival has heaps of fine fayre to tempt the tastebuds and get tails wagging.
For dogs, expect treats and puppuccinos from Pop & Bark, and marvelous meaty
flavours at the Lickie Mat Café from the Raw Pet Food Pantry to name but a few, and for
humans, food will also be "local" from Hampshire vendors such as the Crispy
Duck Rotisserie and Oink BBQ. Not only that, expect more than 130 stands
bursting with every imaginable goodies to pamper a pooch—food and treats
included!
Dogstival 2024 takes
place on June 1 and 2, 2024 at Burley
Park, Burley, Hampshire, BH24 4BS.
Tickets are priced from £18 adults, and from
£10 for ages 6-16yrs, under 5’s go free. Weekend tickets also available.
For
more information and tickets, visit Dogstival.co.uk, and follow @dogstival on social
for all the latest event pupdates.
Banner photo:
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