Unique event set for Sunday, Oct. 15
By Barb Pert Templeton
Finding fun events for children during the month of October may be the norm but how about setting aside time to take your favorite canine to a party at a local park? Dog owners across the area are invited to do just that in Ira Township soon.
Ira Township Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the First Annual Dogtober Fest at Ira Township Municipal Park on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Participants are simply asked to have their dog on a leash and use the waste station bags provided to clean-up after their pets.
A flyer promoting the first annual Dogtober Fest in Ira Township is currently being circulated throughout St. Clair County.
Ira Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Babisz said all service-related organizations, dog trainers, dog rescue organizations, dog demonstrators and people with dog products are welcome to attend the event too.
The idea for the special event that will welcome dog owners and their pets to the park is a sort of spinoff from the popular Dogapoolaza event hosted in Clay Township each summer during their music in the park series.
“Dogapoolza has been such a successful event in Clay that I started kicking around the idea for a similar thing at Ira Township Park,” Babisz said. “I started meeting all the local dogs that come to the Ira Park and then I met local dog groomer Dakota Cobb of Dakota’s D’Tailed Dog Grooming and she just ran with it.”
The duo began inviting local dog service organizations to come out and setup stations along the Ira Park trails and they’ve already gotten more than a dozen to agree to come out for the debut of their Dogtober Fest.
Karmik Comfort, that provides massage therapy for dogs, LUVUM All Animal Rescue from Marine City, Amanda’s Homemade Dog Treats and a company that will set up an obstacle course and bring along some show dogs are among those who have signed up to attend the event. Station space at the park that day is free but vendors are encouraged to be sponsors.
The Ira Township Municipal Park has many beautiful walking trails and will be the location for the Dogtober Fest on Oct. 15 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Each sponsor will get a sign provided to them at their space and their donation will help organizers provide information and freebies to those in attendance, Babisz said.
There will also be a dog costume contest with prizes offered in several categories.
“I think this is going to be huge and we are excited about bringing this to our Ira Township Park, the trails there are just beautiful especially with the fall colors,” Babisz said.
Dog owners who are thinking about brining their four-legged family member to the park can consider the event a good opportunity to socialize their pets. On the other hand, Babisz said if the owner already knows their pet is not good in situations where there will be so many other dogs present, they may want to think about it and then decide if they feel the animal will respond positively to the situation.
Those planning to attend are asked to visit the Ira Parks website at iratownship.org and register on the events page. Doing so will simply help organizers plan so they have enough handouts and freebies for attendees.
Babisz said the Dogtober Fest will be held rain or shine and the park has two pavilions they can utilize if they need to that day.
Ira Township Park is located at 8981 Shortcut Road, directly behind the Ira Library on Meldrum.
For more information about the event contact Babisz at (810)748-7080.
