Port Jefferson To Host First Ever Dog Fest This Weekend: Kevin Wood

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — A canine-filled family fun weekend is in store at the Joe Erland Field on Caroline Ave. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the village will host the first ever Port Paws Dog Festival.

The festival includes a Dock Dogs competition, which is open to the public, and teams are made up of one dog and one handler, according to the village. Canines of any breed, size and shape are welcome, but the pooch must be six months or older in order to be eligible to participate and handlers must be above age 7 (there is also a youth handler class for those 7 to 14).

“It’s probably the first dog festival event in the municipality,” Kevin Wood, the Port Paws chairman and founder, who is also the director of Economic Development for the Village of Port Jefferson, said to Patch. “What’s exciting is that it is not just a dock diving event, but a dog-centric festival.”

There are not a lot of events people can bring their dogs to and the festival encourages people to bring their dog, said Wood.

“Dogs can frolic with other dogs or take part in the aquatic competition,” said Wood. “There will be dog trainers, dog vendors, food trucks and tables … It is going to be a good time.”

Proceeds from the event will go to the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy.

“There is talk to install a person/dog fountain in the village,” among other things, said Wood. “That is one of our goals and we will have others as we go along.”

The inaugural water jump will be dedicated to Aida Romanez, a middle school student from Mastic Beach, who died unexpectedly in January.

A “Try-It” event for dogs that are not competitors will be on Friday July 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. and people can register for that at dockdogs.com. People can register at the field to practice at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are on sale for $10 per person and kids 12 and under and dogs can go for free. To learn more about the event visit portpawsdogfest.com. The event will also be livestreamed at the Port Paws Dog Fest Facebook page.

King O’Rourke Auto Group is the main sponsor of the event.