Walnut Creek|Featured Event
Joybound People & Pets presents: Unleash the Love: Festival and Adopt-a-thon
3rd Annual Unleash the LOVE: Festival & Adopt-a-thon
Saturday February 7th, 2026
Fun Run/Walk: Starts at 10:00am
Festival and Adopt-a-thon: 11:00am-3:00pm
Joybound People & Pets Campus:
2890 Mitchell Dr. Walnut Creek, CA
Just a few days before Valentine’s Day, we’ll be celebrating all things love! Join us for a fun festival that features adorable adoptable animals and unexpected delights. This year we have added a Fun Run/Walk. Start the day by getting your heart pumping… for a good cause. Proceeds support Joybound’s life-changing programs for shelter animals and the people who love them. This event is family friendly. We can’t wait to see you there!
Fun Run/Walk details: 10:00am-11:00am
Cost: Race entries are $25 for adults and $15 for kids (under 18 years old)
For the first time ever, we’re hosting “Tails on the Trail,” a pre-festival Fun Run & Walk. We will have two routes available. Participants can complete a 1-mile easy-paced walk or a 3.1 mile/5k run. Pets are welcome to join walkers or runners on either route but must leashed or harnessed, ensuring that the guardian is in full control at all times. Plus, every very entry comes with a collectable Unleash the LOVE: Fun Run & Walk shirt!
Festival & Adopt-a-thon details: 11:00am-3:00pm
Cost: FREE
The Festival & Adopt-a-thon is FREE to attend. RSVP to join either or both. Register for the Fun Run/Walk by selecting your entry ticket. The Fun Run/Walk is $25 for adults and $15 for youth to participate.
·Meet adoptable cats and dogs from 12+ partner shelter organizations across Northern California
·Enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, and artisan marketplace.
·Free ice cream, glitter face painting, popcorn, and giveaways!
·Interactive craft stations, games, and temporary and permanent tattoos.
·Live music from local bands.
·Explore how you can help animals in need by fostering, volunteering, or donating.
·Ask the expert: Get advice from our trainers and veterinarians.
About Joybound People & Pets: Joybound People & Pets is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the human-animal bond by providing compassionate rescue and adoption programs, pet-focused vocational training, and community services that benefit both animals and their human companions. Since 1991, Joybound has facilitated more than 53,000 pet adoptions, while offering accessible veterinary services, animal training, human education and more, resulting in a 145% increase in essential services to the community from 2023. Learn more: joybound.org/