After uniting dog and cat lovers across Sydney in 2023 in its first co-located event, New South Wales favourite pet-dedicated event returns for the ultimate furry weekend as the Dog and Cat Lovers Festival lands at Sydney Showground.
“After the success of last year’s debut co-located festivals, we are thrilled to be returning to Sydney with an even bigger and better line up of talent and attractions, for both pet parents, claw or paw inclined. The weekend is about uniting pet parents for a weekend of furry fun, where we can celebrate our wonderful companions, getting trusted insights on how to be the best pet parent we can be, and of course sniffing out all the latest & greatest stuff to spoil our pets. Plus, who can say no to seeing 800+ dogs and 200+ cats in one weekend?” said Festival Founder, Jason Humphris.
The festivals continue to build on its barking success with a brand-new line up of attractions and talent, plus returning favourites such as science icon, Dr Karl Kruscelnicki speaking on the ‘Science of Dogs’ as well as the ‘Science of Cats’ for the very first time on the OPTIMUM️ DOGWALK & WHISKAS Stage.
The Dog Lovers Festival will see the launch of the new OPTIMUM️ DOGWALK, where the awe-inspiring runway will provide visitors up close and paw-sonal viewing of some of Australia’s top four-legged models. The paw-fect runway will feature a wide range of impeccably styled dogs (and their two-legged human friends) dressed by leading Australian brands, such as Bared Footwear and The Upside, in the DogWalk Fur-ashion Parade. Further shows include Australia’s ‘The Dog Down Under’ with TV Host Lara Shannon, rescue dogs, famous Insta-Pooches, fan-favourites The Wonderdogs with Dr Katrina Warren and Kelly Gill, and the winners of the first-ever Doggelganger competition.
TV Host, Shelly Horton will make her Sydney Cat Lovers Festival debut as the WHISKAS Stage MC where feline fans will be treated to an extensive festival offering of demonstrations and talks. Internet sensation ‘CATMANTOO’ and his skateboarding sidekick ‘Didga’ return, along with Dr Katrina sharing ‘The Most Common Cat Problems Solved’, and for another winning year, visitors can get ready to paw-ty at the Kitty Cosplay Fashion Purrrade.
SYDNEY DOG LOVERS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
- Anticipated as the most popular attraction at this year’s festival, the OPTIMUM️ DOGWALK hosts Australia’s most talented, hard-working, insta-famous and stylish dogs, pawing their way down the runway to the tunes of ‘Ministry of Hound’, Dan Rowntree, and styled by Jeff Lack.
- The VitaPet Arena will wow visitors with new attractions including Mini Dog Races and Dog Parkour, plus Farmer Dave Graham’s K9 Superwall and tricks and tips from Dr Katrina, Kelly Gill and the Wonderdogs.
- Kurgo DockDogs will showcase impressive canines going head-to-head in Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieval competitions, launching themselves into an indoor 100,000-litre pool!
- Travel well with your pup at the new Dog Friendly Travel Hub and discover the best products, experiences and destinations to share with your furry friend along the journey.
- Choose kindness at the Adoption Zone, improve your dog-knowledge at the ADVANCE Paws and Talks, and have your questions answered at SASH Ask-A-Vet.
- Festivalgoers can get their ‘feel good’ hormones at the newly revamped Lyka Pat-A-Pooch Zone by getting up close and personal with an array of dogs.
SYDNEY CAT LOVERS FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
- TV presenter Shelly Horton will MC the WHISKAS Stage with a star-studded line up of vets and animal experts including Dr Karl Kruscelnicki, the man with answers to all of life’s curly animal questions, festival-favourite and Aussie vet Dr Katrina Warren and CATMANTOO & Didga, the internet famous skateboarding cat!
- The BlackHawk Pat-A-Cat Zone returns bigger and better, providing opportunity to connect with these curious creatures, safely and securely, while visitors can watch feline friends in their natural habitat in the new WHISKAS Kitty Corner.
- In a competition like no other, festivalgoers can see a Championship Cat Show up close as leading breeders and their fabulous felines compete for cash prizes, ribbons and glory.
- Find a suitable breed for your home at the Purrrfect Match Zone and start the adoption process at the WHISKAS Adoption Zone and help a kitty find the fur-over home.
- Visitors can meet more than 200 rare and popular breeds of cats in the Breed Showcase – it’s the A-Z of cat breeds!
Ticker holders will have access to a limited number of half-price tickets to the other co-located festival. Don’t act all bark and no bite – pounce on the festival websites to fetch your tickets now. Note: Tickets are limited. Advanced ticket bookings are essential as tickets may not be available on the door.
TICKETS: www.dogloversfestival.com.au/sydney and www.catloversfestival.com.au/sydney
