The historic town of Shepherdstown, WV, will celebrate the Dog Days of Summer with its third annual “DogFest” the weekend of Aug. 15-16.

The DogFest will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. It will include a wide variety of activities for dogs, their owners, dog lovers, and the general public. All activities will be free and everyone will be welcome.

New for this year will be a parade of rescue dogs on Saturday. This will be an opportunity for breed-specific rescue groups and area shelters to help educate the public about the needs of specific breeds and adoption and fostering options. Other highlights of Saturday’s schedule will include a local dog show open to dogs owned by both visitors and residents, and an end-of-the-day “Yappy Hour” for everyone at local bars and restaurants.

The main event Sunday will be a “Look and Learn” show of more than 20 heritage-breed dogs that are rarely seen outside of major dog shows. This was a very popular event last year. Breeds participating this year will include Irish Wolfhounds, Scottish Deerhounds, Bouvier De Flandres, Shiba Inu and Puli. There will also be two sheepdog demonstrations on Sunday.

Both days will include blessings of the dogs; exhibits and demonstrations by trainers, rescue organizations, and others; and children’s activities.

Throughout the weekend, many restaurants and stores and will let dog owners bring their dogs inside. Many will also be offering special dog-themed food, drinks, and items for sale.

Pools and misters will be set up so dogs can stay cool in the August heat.

Watch the Shepherdstown Visitors Center website at www.shepherdstown.info for schedule details.

For more information, contact the Center’s Director, Jan Hafer, at 304-876-2786 or SVC@shepherdstown.info.