Dog-Friendly Events
Discover meetups, festivals, yappy hours, and more happening near you.
Puppy Yoga at Bosly's Backyard (Benefiting One Tail at a Time)
A 60-minute slow-flow yoga class led by a certified instructor, with adoptable puppies from One Tail at a Time roaming the room for cuddles between poses. After class, hang out with the pups and learn about OTAT's adoption and foster programs. Proceeds benefit One Tail at a Time rescue. All levels welcome.
Orphans of the Storm Adoption & Donation Event – Highland Park
Orphans of the Storm sets up at Sunset Woods Park with adoptable dogs and cats, in partnership with Girl Scout Troop 47470. Meet a potential new best friend (reduced adoption fees this weekend) and bring donations for the shelter.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Encore Mahtomedi
Healing Hearts Rescue brings adoptable dogs and puppies to Encore at Mahtomedi Assisted Living & Memory Care. Come meet your newest family member!
Spaniel Meet Up Night at Saint Bark
Calling all Spaniels! Join us for an evening of play, socializing, and connecting with fellow Spaniel owners at Saint Bark, Saint Paul's indoor dog park bar.
All Paws On Deck Adoption Event
One Tail at a Time teams up with Rockwell on the River and the Chicago Boat Company for a riverside adoption event. Meet adoptable dogs, enjoy reduced adoption fees, and qualifying adopters get a complimentary boat ride with their new pup. A relaxed, dog-friendly evening on the river.
Breed Night: Rescues! at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Every rescue has a story worth celebrating — it's Rescue Night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops! Bring your rescue pup to this indoor off-leash dog park and bar, spin the prize wheel, and swap adoption stories with fellow rescue-dog owners.
Riverwalk Yappy Hour at The Northman
Bring your pup to The Northman Beer & Cider Garden on the Chicago Riverwalk for their bi-monthly Yappy Hour (5–8 PM). Enjoy rotating drink specials, giveaways, vendor swag and treats for the dogs, with a rotating local pet-rescue partner each month — 25% of sponsor sales support the shelter. A dog- and human-friendly European-style beer garden right on the river.
Tiny Dog Meet-up at Pup Social
A supervised playtime designed just for dogs under 20 lbs, giving small pups a safe, comfortable, confidence-boosting space to socialize with similarly-sized companions at Pup Social in Lincoln Park.
Bark in the Park at Viking Lakes with Coco's Heart Dog Rescue
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue heads to Viking Lakes in Eagan for Bark in the Park — a dog-friendly summer evening on the Vikings campus. Bring your leashed pup to meet adoptable rescue dogs, connect with fellow dog owners, and enjoy the outdoor space. Free and open to dogs and their people.
PAWS Chicago 5K Walk/Run for Their Lives
Chicago's largest dog-friendly charity 5K returns to Montrose Harbor for its 26th year. Run the 5K course or strut with your mutt on the walkers' route, then enjoy dog agility activities, raffles, sponsor booths, treats and entertainment — all benefiting PAWS Chicago's no-kill mission.
Small Dog Hangout at Brew Park Plymouth – Aug 29
A relaxed Saturday-morning social hour for small dogs at Plymouth's indoor off-leash dog park with a full bar.
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue Adoption Meet at Fairy Wonderland Park
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue's summer adoption meet at Fairy Wonderland Park in Prescott, with adoptable dogs and food trucks on site. Leashed, friendly dogs welcome.
Ruff Start Adoption Event at Fleet Farm Blaine
Ruff Start Rescue Clear the Shelter adoption event at Fleet Farm in Blaine; meet adoptable dogs and other animals.
Safe Hands Rescue Meet & Greet at Pet Evolution
Adoptable puppies and adult dogs from Safe Hands Rescue meet the public at Pet Evolution in St. Louis Park — a fun stop for dog owners and prospective adopters.
Chicago Pet Rescue Adoption Event at Kriser's Park Ridge
Chicago Pet Rescue brings adoptable dogs to Kriser's Natural Pet in Park Ridge. Meet rescue pups looking for their forever homes and shop natural pet goods while you visit.
Beagle Fest 2026 at Roaring Table Brewing (Benefiting Reach Rescue)
An all-day celebration of dogs at Roaring Table Brewing. Flock of Beagles beer on tap, a dog photo booth, live music, kids activities, a special food menu and an on-site dog adoption event — a portion of Flock of Beagles sales benefits Reach Rescue. Leashed, friendly pups welcome.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Forgotten Star Brewing
Healing Hearts Rescue monthly dog adoption event at the dog-friendly Forgotten Star Brewing taproom in Fridley.
Adoptable Pups at the Wilmette Block Party (One Tail at a Time)
One Tail at a Time brings adoptable pups to the Wilmette Park District's downtown block party. Meet dogs looking for their forever homes, chat with the rescue's volunteers, and enjoy a dog-friendly afternoon of food, music, and community in downtown Wilmette.
PetSmart Adoption Day at NE Minneapolis (MACC) – Aug 30
Minneapolis Animal Care & Control brings adoptable shelter dogs to the Northeast Minneapolis PetSmart — meet the pups and learn about adopting your next best friend.
Healing Hearts Rescue Adoption Event at Spikes & Houles Forest Lake
Healing Hearts Rescue dog adoption event at the Spikes & Houles pet supply store in Forest Lake.
End of Summer Social at Pup Social
Pup Social sends off summer with one last afternoon of off-leash fun — a foam party, supervised dog play, wellness resources and vet-care tips from Family Pet, plus local vendors. Bring your pup for the season finale in Lincoln Park.
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue at Woodbury Days
Coco's Heart Dog Rescue brings adoptable dogs to the Woodbury Days community festival in Ojibway Park. Meet the pups and learn about adopting.
Dog Day at the St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints' final Dog Day of 2026 — a Bark in the Park-style game (Saints vs. Toledo Mud Hens) where fans bring leashed dogs to CHS Field. Advance order form and waiver required; participating dogs get a Saints-themed collar.
Lonely Hearts Dinner: Leeann Chin Elk River (Ruff Start Fundraiser)
Dine-to-donate fundraiser for Ruff Start Rescue at Leeann Chin in Elk River — bring the flyer at checkout and a portion of sales supports adoptable dogs. (Dogs not present at this event.)
Puppy Playtime & Smol Dog Night at Unleashed Hounds and Hops
Minnesota's original dog park bar hosts a supervised off-leash social: Puppy Playtime for pups 3–6 months (5–6 PM), followed by Smol Dog Night for dogs under 30 lbs (6–8 PM). Registration required at the door.
Bark at the Park: Twins vs. Tigers
The Minnesota Twins host Bark at the Park as summer winds down — bring your leashed, well-behaved pup to Target Field to watch the Twins take on AL Central rival Detroit Tigers. Dogs sit alongside their humans in the left-field corner (sections 125–127), and every Bark at the Park package includes an exclusive Twins portable dog water bottle to keep your pup hydrated through the game. Tickets are $51.50 and cover one human plus one dog; they must be purchased through the special Bark at the Park package.
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.
Ruff Start Rescue's 16th Anniversary Celebration & Open House
Join Ruff Start Rescue as we celebrate an incredible milestone: 16 years of lifesaving work and more than 33,000 animals rescued! Join us on Saturday, September 19th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm to celebrate Ruff Start Rescue's 16th Anniversary! This open house-style event is a chance to celebrate our history, impact, and future vision while connecting with our supporters. It is our way of thanking the fosters, volunteers, donors, adopters, and community members who made it possible. What to Expect Meet adoptable animals Food & Beverages Games & Activities Shop local vendors RSR merchandise for sale Silent Auction supporting Ruff Start Rescue programs Take a tour of our new expansion Donation Drive- collecting new and gently used pet supplies and food Admission is FREE, family-friendly, and open to all (donations welcome!). Whether you’re a long-time foster, first-time adopter, or passionate animal supporter, this event is for you. **Pet Policy: We kindly ask that you leave your resident pets at home, since we'll have adoptable animals on site. This helps create a safe, low-stress environment for the foster animals attending the event. Visit the Facebook Event for more details, as well as vendor and activity highlights. By attending this event, you acknowledge that photos and videos may be taken for Ruff Start Rescue marketing purposes.