Outdoor events can be fun to share with your pup, as long as you ensure the event is safe and comfortable for your dog and he will be a great ambassador for canines while in attendance.
Some seasonal outdoor events, like concerts and fireworks, prohibit dogs, but many of the spaces where such events are held are otherwise dog-friendly. We would never advise taking dogs to fireworks shows. The noise from the explosives and the presence of people looking up rather than paying attention to a dog in the area could spell trouble for even the calmest of canines.
However, in these same spots you may have opportunities to gather friends, a blanket, a picnic, and your dog for a relaxed evening outside.
Concerts and Movie Nights
Websites like BostonCentral.com provide updated details on events throughout the Greater Boston area. These include Free Friday Flicks at the Hatch Shell on the Charles River Esplanade, Wednesday night movies at Castle Island, and Monday nights at Time Out Market.
They also list concert series and will update these listings when the fall schedules are announced.
Markets and Festivals
Dogs on leashes are welcome at many farmers markets and local festivals. Always check the rules before you arrive. There is a perception that farmers’ markets close down when school begins, but many operate into October and some until Thanksgiving week. For example, the Boston Seaport Summer Market runs through October 10th.
Boston artists and craftspeople will display their work during the Boston Arts Festival at the Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park in mid-September. In addition, October will bring the spirit of Oktoberfest to beer gardens and other sites in the area. Halloween displays and costume parties will follow.
You will also find event listings on the websites of specific hosting locations. Check out the Rose Kennedy Greenway events and activities that continue through early fall:
Is This Right for Your Dog?
Here are a few tips to make these outings more enjoyable for you, your pup, and the people around you. Obviously, if your dog is not well-mannered or not comfortable around either people or dogs, this is not the right activity for you.
• If you have a high-energy dog, make sure she’s tired before the event.
• At a concert, find a spot away from speakers and watch your pup’s expression to see if the amplified sound is causing any discomfort.
• Bring water for your dog. And stash a few treats in your pocket to reward good behavior.
• Make sure your pup has plenty of opportunities to relieve himself away from the crowd to avoid an embarrassing leg lift on a neighbor’s chair.
• Don’t let your canine companion give all dogs a bad name by begging for or stealing your neighbor’s lunch.
• Tick reports are plentiful this year. Be sure to check yourself and your dog for ticks during and after the event.
Catch Up with Friends and Neighbors
You don’t need an event planned by an organization to spend an afternoon or evening in the great outdoors. Send out a message and have a group of dog buddies gather around a bench with a few extra blankets spread on the grass.