Bring Your Dog to Liberty Station for DogFest Southwest
Bring the dog. That’s the entire premise of DogFest Southwest 2026, and it’s a good one. The Central Promenade at Liberty Station turns into a day built around service dogs, the people who work alongside them, and every pup who shows up in costume.
Canine Companions hosts it each year in Point Loma, and your registration goes toward its service dog program.
A Puppy Costume Contest and a Promenade Full of Games
The day runs on live music, games built for both ends of the leash, and a puppy costume contest that is exactly as fun as it sounds. Vendors and sponsors set up along the promenade, so there’s plenty to browse between activities.
Liberty Station is a smart fit for this. The Central Promenade is wide, flat, and easy to navigate with a dog in tow, and there’s no shortage of places to eat nearby once the day winds down.
What Buddy Learned From Three Service Dogs
The part that sticks with people isn’t the costumes. Each year, a Canine Companions client and their service dog take the mic to talk about what the partnership actually changes, and a team will speak again in 2026.
At DogFest Southwest 2025, that was United States Air Force veteran Buddy and his service dog Kiva. She’s the third service dog he’s been partnered with, and he still finds new things to notice about how she works.
“She’s a really great motivator,” Buddy said, crediting Kiva with keeping him active. “She’s expecting something to be happening all day until it’s time to sleep. And I go to veterans’ groups and tell them, “What gets our butts out of bed? Well, when your dog is there looking at you, you know your day’s begun.'”
Frisbee, Sunshine, and Knowing When to Help
Buddy is an avid beachgoer, and taking Kiva out to the county’s coastline for Frisbee and sunshine is one of his favorite ways to spend an afternoon. Caring for her and filling her days is its own kind of fulfillment.
What still surprises him after three partnerships is how well these dogs read a moment. Not just retrieving what he needs, but knowing when he needs it. He says sharing that with fellow veterans is a privilege.
Plan Your Saturday in Point Loma
Registration is open now through the official DogFest page. Sign up ahead of time rather than the morning of, especially if more than one dog is coming with you.
Get there early if you want a good view of the costume contest, bring water, and plan on a dog who’ll be tired in the best possible way by the time you head home.
See you there!
Point Loma, a promenade full of dogs in costume, and a real reason behind all of it. Clip on the leash and make a Saturday of it.
📆 Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 11 AM – 2 PM
📍 2641 Truxtun Road, San Diego
🎟️ Join the fun here
ℹ️ Get more details here
See you there, San Diego!
