The Big Woof Festival 2026

The festival officially opened with a celebratory ribbon cutting, welcoming community leaders, animal advocates, and festival supporters

• Dignitaries in attendance: Ron Magill - Festival Ambassador and Communications Director at Zoo Miami; Daniella Levine Cava - Mayor of Miami-Dade County; Damian Pardo - Commissioner, City of Miami;  Mark Burns - Executive Director, Coconut Grove Business Improvement District; and Carol Caridad - Founder and Executive Director, PAWS4you Rescue
• Special poetry reading by Richard Blanco, United States Presidential Inaugural Poet and Miami-Dade County Poet Laureate, honoring the bond between dogs and their humans

“This is exactly the kind of event that makes Coconut Grove and Miami feel like home: neighbors, pups, local vendors, and a reminder to adopt, don’t shop.”
— Commissioner Damian Pardo

  The festival delivered a packed lineup of crowd-pleasing entertainment and interactive experiences 

•   Corgi Races and Dachshund Races
• Performances by the Disc-Connected K9s World Famous Frisbee Dogs
• Dog Agility demonstrations
• VCA Golden Glam Contest, where golden retrievers competed for best dressed
• Parade of Hope, featuring adoptable pups
• City of Miami K9 Exhibitions & Dog Training Demos
• Lure Course, where dogs could chase and run
• Interactive Enrichment Zone, welcoming dogs of all breeds and abilities

  The festival featured a vibrant pet-focused vendor marketplace with a variety of vendors that created a dynamic shopping and discovery experience for dog lovers

• Pet nutrition and specialty foods
• Veterinary and wellness services
• Training and enrichment programs
• Pet technology and accessories
• Grooming and pet care services
• Pet fashion and lifestyle brands
• Handmade treats and artisan pet products

  Giving back to the rescue community is a central pillar of the festival and the driving force for its mission

• $10,000 plus a percentage of ticket sales donated to PAWS4you Rescue
• 8 rescue and foster organizations participated in the festival, connecting with attendees and sharing information about adoption and responsible pet ownership
• More than 30 adoptable pups were introduced to potential families throughout the weekend
• Participation by Miami-Dade Animal Services