Tails wagged and dogs gathered at the Hunt Branch Library as Fullerton Parks and Recreation hosted its annual Pup-toberfest celebration on Sunday.
The event featured a dog show and activities for attendees and their pets. Pup-toberfest has become one of parks and recreation’s biggest annual events, drawing community members who come to show off their dogs, meet other pet owners and enjoy a day centered around the city’s canine community.
For returning attendees, Pup-toberfest offered an opportunity to continue traditions with their pets. Lindsey Wallace brought her dog, Isla, to Pup-toberfest for the third consecutive year as she has attended the event every year since discovering it two years ago.
Isla, a 4-year-old mixed breed dog, participated in the dog race, with Wallace who hoped her dog would win for the third time in a row. She looks forward to the race each year and enjoyed participating in the event with her pup.
“It’s always been a really fun event to come to. There’s always something new, but really, I’m super competitive,” Wallace said. “So we just want to see if she can still hold up her title.”
Beyond the competition, Wallace said Pup-toberfest gave her an opportunity to spend time with Isla and strengthen their relationship.
“It’s just something fun to do, something that helps our bond,” Wallace said. “We enjoy coming out and seeing everybody else, but really it’s just her and I bonding.”
Wallace said one of her favorite activities was visiting a photo booth that created drawings of attendees and their dogs.
“It’s something that I’ll get to cherish and keep as part of her memory,” Wallace said.
Pup-toberfest provided an opportunity for small businesses to be introduced to Fullerton residents. Pet photographer Lizeth Garcia, who participated in Pup-toberfest for the second year, said she returned after having a positive experience at last year’s event.
Garcia offered digital pet photography, allowing attendees to have their dogs photographed in front of a fall-themed backdrop.
“It’s just good to spread awareness of small businesses that are local for you, but you necessarily wouldn’t know about,” Garcia said. “It’s a cool place to bring them all together for people to discover.”
Garcia said participating in Pup-toberfest also gave potential customers an opportunity to witness her photography process firsthand.
“That helps a lot with exposure, and it gives people a chance to see how it works because they get to see me photographing a dog,” Garcia said.
Pup-toberfest also offered some community members an opportunity to explore an event they had not previously attended. Attendee Carlos Montenegro, who is visiting his sister in the area, said he enjoyed walking around and seeing all the different booths.
Montenegro said the library’s location next to an open dog park made it a convenient setting for the event and for people to visit the different booths.
Although he had not attended a similar event at the library before, Montenegro said he would return for another event.
Through its dog show, vendors and activities, Pup-toberfest brought Fullerton residents together at the Hunt Branch Library while celebrating their pets.
For attendees, the event offered more than a competition. It provided a space to spend time with their dogs, discover local businesses and connect with other community members.