BARK BASH – August 24, 2024
Bark Bash is the super-duper event of the summer for you and your canine friends. The inaugural Bark Bash replaces the cancelled WAG! Fest and won’t miss a beat, or a bark, at Prairie Oaks Metro Park on Saturday August 24, 2024. The four-legged frolic gets underway at 10am and will keep Fido and Friends fully active and engaged in fun right the way through to 4pm.
Metro Parks Executive Director Tim Moloney said, “We were sad to hear WAG! Fest was cancelled and knew the dogs and people of Franklin County would miss the fun. By providing an alternative event, it allows us to build upon the success of our previous events while embracing a fresh approach that aligns more closely with our mission to provide memorable experiences for our community and their canine companions.”
Bark Bash will feature canine vendors dedicated to all your dogs’ needs, canine rescue organizations, humane societies, food vendors, and more! Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure will be hosting stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking for humans and their pups, and owners can customize and tie-dye a bandana for their companion with Friends of Metro Parks. There will be trails for walks, a lake for dogs to swim in, and an ice castle to cool off in.
ORIGINAL POST BELOW:
LIZ CHRISTIAN
Marketing and Social Media Specialist
WAG!
WAG! Festival is on August 27 from 10am to 4pm at the Darby Bend Lakes area of Prairie Oaks. It’s the nation’s largest single-day dog festival and is free to attend. Visitors will find trails to wander and a dog beach to splash around in. The WAG! Marketplace will include exhibits of products, samples and services from pet retailers, clubs and organizations to spoil your BFF (best furry friend). Visitors will also be able to meet experts from various area rescue groups to learn about different breeds and how to know which type of dog is best for their homes and lifestyles. Disc demonstrations, agility performances and dock diving will also be going on throughout the day by Ohio’s most talented canines.
OUTDOOR INCLUSIVE ADVENTURE
Outdoor Inclusive Adventure will be held September 11, from 11am to 3pm at the Darby Bend Lakes area of Prairie Oaks. The event, co-hosted by Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks and the YMCA of Central Ohio, is a day of fun and inclusive activities for visitors of all abilities! Visitors will be able to kayak and canoe, fish, hike, and enjoy lawn games and sensory play. Activity supplies, lunch and light refreshments will be provided. Parents must stay with their children.