Dogs Will Take Over Del Ray's Street Festival

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- This month's First Thursday in Del Ray is going to the dogs. The theme for Del Ray's monthly street festival is a nod to Alexandria's dog-friendly environment. It will take place on May 4 from 6 p.m. to dusk on Mount Vernon Avenue.

The event is free and welcome to all four-legged friends (and their humans). There will be a number of activities for dogs.

The festival, which benefits a different local cause every month, will be collecting unopened dog and cat food, training treats for dogs, KONGS toys, unused nylabones, Greenies pill pockets and Martingale collars for the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Donations will be collected at Pat Miller Neighborhood Square at Mt. Vernon and Oxford Avenues.

Activities include:

• Pet adoption information from Homeward Trails, Operation Paws, Lu’s Labs Labrador Retriever Rescue, Pet Rescue Alliance, and Animal Welfare League of Alexandria
• Obstacle Course hosted by Your Dog's Best Friends at the Bean Creative lot
• Conditioning & Training with Wholistic Hound's Sandy Modell located at the breezeway near The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray
• Musical Matts/Tug-a-war hosted by Your Dog's Best Friends at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square
• Smooch-a- Pooch hosted by Your Dog's Best Friends in front of The Dog Store
• Bark & Grilllll hosted by Your Dog's Best Friends in front of The Dog Store
• Spin Wheel hosted by Your Dog's Best Friends at the Pat Miller Neighborhood Square'
• Dog Tails -- storytime with Duncan Library at the Bean Creative lot
• Face painting in front of Bellies and Babies
• Dog Art with Friends of Guest House in front of The Department of Human Services
• And treats for humans, too -- including dog bone-shaped cornbread with whipped honey butter from Northside 10, in front of Pork Barrel BBQ

The Del Ray street festival runs every first Thursday from April to September along Mount Vernon Avenue. For more information, go to Visit Del Ray's website.

Image via Martin Astley/Flickr, used under Creative Common