October 8, 2022

Four-legged friends and their owners are invited to gather for fun, games, and competition at Dogtober Fest 2022, Sunday, October 16 at the Kemper Outdoor Education Center, near Lake Jacomo in Fleming Park. This is the 28th year for the popular annual event presented by Jackson County Parks + Rec. Admission is free with the donation of dog food to benefit the Lee’s Summit Animal Shelter and other small, local shelters and rescues participating in the event.

Dogtober Fest 2022 is full of FREE contests and games throughout the day, such as Bobbing for Biscuits, Musical Discs and Roll-Over Races. Don’t miss the beloved Halloween Costume Contest at 1:00 p.m. featuring three categories: Frightful, Delightful and another for groups with three or more dogs.

Visitors can also participate in the favorite “Tails for Trails Dog-Walk for Parks,” a one-mile walk on the nature trail at Kemper Outdoor Education Center. Registration is $20 in advance or $25 at the registration booth. Participants will receive an event t-shirt and a goodie bag. There are also small entry fees for dog sport competitions, clinics, good canine citizen testing, and trick dog title evaluations.

Back by popular demand is the non-competitive Canine Adventure Challenge. This 20-plus course features obstacles designed to intrigue and build teamwork among dogs and owners. The Canine Adventure Challenge is an on-leash experience. All dogs are welcome to join, whether they have advanced training or no training at all!

Guests will enjoy a variety of activities this year including:

Teacup Agility Clinics and Teacup Agility Fun Runs that are specifically for dogs of smaller stature who are no more than 20″ at the shoulders. The teacup agility obstacles are a scaled down version more appropriate for their size.

A Nose Work Practice Clinic that capitalizes on your dog’s natural ability to hunt for and locate high value food or toys.

Nose Work Outdoor Search for those already proficient in K9 Nose Work who want to practice their skills.

Trick Dog Title Evaluations for dogs that know a lot of tricks and what to earn a Trick Dog Title. We will be evaluating both AKC and ‘Do More with Your Dog’ Trick Dog Titles.

In addition to great activities, guests will enjoy exploring over 75 vendor booths featuring pet products, services, breed education and demonstrations for pet owners. Area animal shelters and rescue groups will also be on hand showcasing dogs available for adoption. And there will be numerous opportunities for great pictures with your dogs including a FREE photo booth.

Workshop and activity registration is available online for $5 per event. The deadline for online registration is October 13th. Event-day registration is available on-site at a cost of $7 per event. For a complete list of activities and event schedule, visit makeyourdayhere.com.