Dog owners and their furry friends are invited to Oak Bay this summer for North America鈥檚 biggest canine celebration.  

The free event, called Day of the Dog, will take place on Aug. 17 on Oak Bay Avenue, between Foul Bay and Elgin roads, from noon to 4 p.m. 

鈥淲e are pretty much Coachella for dogs,鈥� said Leo Powell, who co-founded the event 14 years ago with Jordan Illingworth. 鈥淲e come together annually to celebrate the bond that we have with our pets.鈥�   

The all-out affair is set to offer a swath of activities for both dogs and their owners. Top pet exhibitors from across North America, a superhero-themed photo booth, brunch for pups, best in show snaggletooth contests and 30-foot doodle, bulldog and corgi races are just a few of the planned activities. Your canine companions can also take a break from the summer heat in an 80-foot pool, set to boast a DJ, canine cabanas and lifeguards on duty. A range of food trucks will keep humans fed, while offering doggie menus, and yoga sessions will even give people a chance to stretch and relax with adoptable puppies.  

The annual festival started in Victoria and has expanded to include Calgary, Vancouver, San Diego, Santa Monica and Scottsdale, Ariz. Other cities, including Las Vegas and Dallas, are chomping at the bit to host Day of the Dog events.

鈥淧eople plan their vacations around my festivals, which is quite beautiful,鈥� said Powell. 鈥淭o think someone's coming down from Texas to Vancouver, someone's coming down from Seattle to Victoria, or to have people plan their whole year for something that you've created and curated is pretty incredible."

Proceeds will go to Just Love Animals Society, a non-profit organization with a focus on community outreach, pet industry mentorships and animal welfare.

The Day of the Dog event in Esquimalt last year saw approximately 10,000 people attend.

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