The 2nd Annual BarkFest hit the Williamsburg waterfront Sunday, July 19th. The event drew four-legged friends and their two-legged companions from as far away as New Jersey, Staten Island, and the Bronx. Bark & Co. again hosted Bark Fest with co-sponsors Kruuse, Seek, and Voyce. They built on last year’s success, which brought out 3,000 pups to Madison Square Park. “Built” might be putting it mildly, as Christina Donnelly, Events Coordinator of Bark & Co. said, “This year’s BarkFest was packed with activities for 8,000 pup pawrents to enjoy with their pups.”
There were a multitude of canine centric amusements including: doggie portraits, agility courses, splash zones, the first-ever dog-friendly “fireworks” using LED technology, and a selfie-station with celebrity dogs Marnie The Dog, Menswear Dog, and others, plus a hot dog eating contest (for dogs).
Speaking of hot dogs, a major criticism of this year’s BarkFest was that there was not enough relief from the hot temperatures that day. Many wished for more tents, doggie pools, and water bowls, and one stated her dog ended up with blistered feet due to the hot concrete. Those who arrived later in the day were more positive about the event even though some bemoaned the long lines for some of the activities. On the other hand, long lines can also be interpreted as success in that this event drew big numbers to it. For those without pups (or wanting to increase their pack) there were 20 adoptable dogs from 10 different NYC rescues coordinated by Foster Dogs NYC, a Brooklyn based non-profit focused on supporting foster and rescue efforts in NYC.
The comments about the heat didn’t fall on deaf ears for in planning next year’s BarkFest Christina Donnelly said, “We can’t wait to start planning next year’s BarkFest full of activities for pups and their people to enjoy together – pawtentially in some slightly cooler weather!”
In addition to BarkFest, Bark & Co. hosts dog-friendly hikes, picnics, parties, and more. Check out BarkLive.com for pupcoming events!
The Greenline 