National Dog Day: Here's 3 places to celebrate in Greater Columbus

Micah Walker, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read

Dogs can make great companions.

They'll be a snuggle partner while you're curled up on the couch watching TV or reading a book. You can talk to them about your day without another person cutting in. And you can enjoy leisurely walks around the neighborhood together (until they find a squirrel they want to catch).

And the best part? Dogs are always excited to see you when you come home!

Every year on Aug. 26, there's a day where you can appreciate and celebrate your canine companion - National Dog Day.

The holiday was created in 2004 by pet and family lifestyle expert and animal rescue advocate Colleen Paige, according to the National Dog Day website. The date was selected due to Paige's family adopting her first dog from a local animal shelter that day when she was 10 years old.

Her mission is to raise awareness about the growing number of dogs that need to be rescued each year, as well as to celebrate all dogs, no matter what breed they are. Paige is also the creator of other animal-related holidays such as National Puppy Day, National Mutt Day and National Cat Day.

For those in Greater Columbus who want to celebrate the day, there are multiple events to partake in, from a dog-filled night at a local brewery to the annual WAG! Fest.

BrewDog's DogTap Columbus

BrewDog's DogTap Columbus will take place in Canal Winchester.
BrewDog's DogTap Columbus will take place in Canal Winchester.

DogTap Columbus, which is part of brewery BrewDog, is hosting an event for the holiday on Friday beginning at 5 p.m. The taproom, located at 96 Gender Road in Canal Winchester, will have special canine treats from vendors such as Pawesomes Dog Ice Cream and Thriving K-9 Company. At 6 p.m., folks can try their hand at dog trivia.

National Dog Day hike at Blacklick Woods Metro Park

Hikers can bring their furry friends along a 2-mile route for a National Dog Day hike at Blacklick Woods Metro Park.
Hikers can bring their furry friends along a 2-mile route for a National Dog Day hike at Blacklick Woods Metro Park.

Blacklick Woods Metro Park, 6975 E. Livingston Avenue in Reynoldsburg, is hosting a National Dog Day hike at 3 p.m. Hikers can bring their furry friends along a 2-mile route.

Take your canine to WAG! Fest

WAG! Fest is a great opportunity for pets to socialize and have a good time. It takes place Saturday in Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
WAG! Fest is a great opportunity for pets to socialize and have a good time. It takes place Saturday in Prairie Oaks Metro Park.

While WAG! Fest is happening on Saturday and is technically not on National Dog Day, the event is a fun way to extend the celebration throughout the weekend.

Now in its 15th year, WAG! Fest has become the biggest dog festival in Greater Columbus and the country's largest single-day dog festival. The free event will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, 2755 Amity Road, in Hilliard.

Visitors can get advice and goodies from a variety of participants, including pet retailers, dog food companies, doggie day cares, vendors of dog apparel and accessories, grooming services, dog walking services, pet photographers, veterinarians and animal hospitals, waste removal services, and rescue groups.

There's also plenty to do for dogs, like cooling off at the Atlas Butler Ice Castle, where they can wallow in or chew just over two tons of ice. Or they can take a swim off-leash in the Water Bark Beach swim area.

Reporter Margaret Quamme contributed to this story.

mwalker@dispatch.com

@micah_walker701

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: National Dog Day 2022: 3 places to celebrate in Greater Columbus