PRESS RELEASE: Alexandria Love Your Pet Day Returns this October with New Old Town Location

Media Contact: Regina Hardter
(703) 746-5662
communications@alexandriaanimals.org

Alexandria Love Your Pet Day Returns this October with New Old Town Location

Proceeds from the popular Alexandria event benefit the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (August 3, 2021) — After a one-year delay due to the pandemic, the Alexandria Love Your Pet Day festival returns on Sunday, Oct. 3, in a bigger and more accessible location: Oronoco Bay Park at 100 Madison St. The popular event will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and proceeds will go to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria (AWLA), which is organizing the event.

“We know Alexandrians love their pets,” said AWLA Executive Director Stella Hanly. “The Alexandria Love Your Pet Day Festival gives them a chance to celebrate that, by bringing together local animal-themed vendors and nonprofits as well as artisans, entertainment and more, for a fun day the whole family can enjoy — including the pups!”

Along with shopping and a variety of food and drink choices, the festival will also offer family-friendly entertainment and activities throughout the day. Musical acts Uno Dos Tres Andrés (sponsored through the generosity of the Alexandria Library) and Rainbow Rock Band will headline the main stage, magician Chris Michael and interactive training and musical demos will round out the festivities. The AWLA will offer a Family Entertainment area, with animal-focused crafts, games and, of course, adoptable animals.

Working alongside the AWLA to renew this community event are founding event members Alexandria Public Library, Dogtopia of Alexandria, Frolick Dogs, Pinnacle Pet Spa & More and VCA Animal Hospitals.

“In past years, we’ve enjoyed having hundreds of visitors — both human and canine — come by to show how important pets are in Alexandria,” said festival founding member and Event Coordinator Stephanie Frederick. “With the new, easy walk-up location in Oronoco Bay Park, we look forward to welcoming even more attendees, as well as vendors, sponsors and more!”

The Oct. 3 event is also open to friendly, leashed pets, and more information about the entertainment schedule can be found at AlexandriaLoveYourPetDay.com/Schedule. Adoptable animals from the AWLA and several other regional rescues will be in attendance, and those interested in participating as a vendor or sponsor of Alexandria Love Your Pet Day can learn more at AlexandriaLoveYourPetDay.com/HowtoPartner.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming people back to the Alexandria Love Your Pet Day Festival on Oct. 3,” said the AWLA’s Hanly. “Whether you’re there for some amazing entertainment, to enjoy the work of local artisans or vendors, or just to meet some adorable adoptables, there will be something for everyone. It’s going to be a lot of fun!”

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Above: Alexandria Love Your Pet Day returns on Oct. 3 in a new Old Town location of Oronoco Bay Park; Alexandria Love Your Pet Day celebrates a community’s love of animals of all types; Previous Alexandria Love Your Pet Day events saw thousands of visitors; Alexandria Love Your Pet Day features entertainment for the whole family. High-resolution photos available upon request. Photos courtesy of Dirty Paw Photography.

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About the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

Celebrating 75 years as a community resource, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is a local 501(c)(3) organization that is dedicated to helping animals not only at the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter (Alexandria’s only open-access animal shelter) but also across the community. In 2020, they expanded their outreach programs to offer more than 40,000 pounds of donated pet supplies across the region, as well as finding more ways to reach and assist pet owners through drive-up vaccination and microchip clinics, spay and neuter assistance, grooming and veterinary aid and more.  These efforts are supported through events like Alexandria Love Your Pet Day.  More information about these efforts can be found at AlexandriaAnimals.org.