Celebrating its 7th year, Barktoberfest™ is Middle Tennessee’s favorite costumed fall festival for dogs and their people, taking place Saturday Oct 17th from 12p-5p. Barktoberfest is hosted by Nashville Paw magazine and draws an estimated 3,000 guests and their pooch pals from across Middle Tennessee.
This year, the festival moves to the sprawling grounds of The Park at Harlinsdale Farm, in a new partnership with the City of Franklin Parks. This new partnership will allow the festival room to grow as well as allow for free parking!
As always, Barktoberfest will feature food trucks, a pet adoption fair featuring local rescue groups and shelters, and 40+ vendor booths to browse and shop. There will also be plenty of fun activities for dogs, kids and the whole family.
We’re excited about this year’s musical lineup, which includes Nashville’s own Emily Earle and Eight O’ Five Jive returning to the stage, as well as national touring band Jack and The Bear.
Of course, the highlight of Barktoberfest is always our Howl-O-Ween Costume Contests, where humans and pooch pals alike compete for over $2,000 in fun and fabulous prizes! Costume contests are $10 per entry per contest, and include 3 contests this year: a Kids Costume 
Contest (ages 12 and under), a Dog Costume Contest and our Dog + Human Costume Combo Contest.
COSTUME CONTEST ENTRY + JUDGING
Costume contest entry is $10 per entry per contest. You must register by 12:45 for the kids contest; by 3:45 for the dog-only contest; and by 4:15 for the dog + human contest. Visit the Nashville Paw Contest Registration Booth to enter one or all contests. Entry fee is cash only. We will be awarding more than $2,000 in prizes! Get creative and come to win! We choose winners based in part on the following aspects:
– Originality of Costume Theme / Idea
– Effort Involved with the Costume / Ensemble
– Creativity of Design or Use
Don’t miss Middle Tennessee’s most fun and festive fall event! Leash up your pooch pal and bring the whole family in costume for an afternoon of fun and a chance at some great prizes.
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