It’s no secret that for many of us, dogs and cats make life that little bit much more bearable. Whether you’re more of a pooch person or a feline fan, you can probably agree that both these domestic sweeties have their very own, furry merits that deserve some serious lovin’.
If you prefer the company of pets to people (we hear you), you’re going to want to make sure you head down to Sydney Showground on the weekend of August 26 and 27, 2023. Coming back for the 9th year in a row, the beloved Sydney Dog Lovers Festival will be joined by the first-ever Sydney Cat Lovers Festival, just next door. And, if you’re wondering – fret not, the two won’t be in the same room. That would be chaotic.
Although you can't bring your own animals along to this occassion, the Sydney Dog Lovers Festival will be bringing more than 800 pooches together in one place for a full weekend of doggy festivities. You’ll see the iconic likes of Dr Karl and Bluey on stage, get to head to a Pat-a-Pooch zone for cuddles and an endorphin boost, watch a gang of thrill-seeking pups leap high in an event known only as "Extreme High Jumping Dogs”, and even get to hit up a lush velvet-throned meet-and-greet with puppy celebrities. We’re not quite sure how conversationally in-depth the media interviews with the pooches of Instagram will go, but damn, we’re looking forward to finding out. You’ll also get to meet dogs up for adoption, shop for pretty much everything you can imagine for your canine companion, and eat human food from numerous food trucks.
If cats are more your thing, then listen up. The Cat Lovers Festival will be a feline fest unlike any other, with this year’s celebrations promising to bring dozens of breeds and more than 200 cats to Sydney Showground on the same weekend. You’ll get to hear a whole heap of talks from famous cat experts, see a variety of rare breeds and popular breeds on show, and get some cat cuddles in designated Pat-A-Cat pods. You can also get the chance to kick-start your own cat adoption process, find your ‘pur-fect’ match with a guide to all the best breeds for you, and last (but not least), see talented cats perform tricks at the Championship Cat Show.
Tickets to the Sydney Dog Festival and Sydney Cat Festival are available to buy online now, and range from $18.50 for kids, to $105 for a family package.
You may think Sydneysiders are an unflappable bunch, which generally holds true until they're presented with the prospect of puppies and/or kittens – so get in quick.
