We are pawsitively excited for this year’s Howl-O-Ween Family Fest as we are celebrating 10 years of saving senior dogs at Marty’s Place! We can’t wait to share this milestone with all of our friends and supporters. Thank you for being a part of our journey!
If you’ve been to this event before, you’ll find lots of familiar favorites as well as some brand new features. If this is your first time – you are in for a treat! As our largest fundraiser of the year, Howl-O-Ween Family Fest raises money to help Marty’s Place Senior Dog Sanctuary carry out our mission to provide a safe, loving, and protected environment for senior dogs in need of homes.
This year’s event takes place on Saturday, October 18th from 12pm to 5pm right on our beautiful sanctuary grounds. Read on for everything you need to know about Howl-O-Ween Family Fest!
Before we continue, we want to give a great big THANK YOU to all of our pawsome sponsors, vendors, donors, and volunteers! We couldn’t do it without you.
About Marty’s Place
If you’ve been following us for a while, we’re grateful for your support and are excited to bring you some new blog content. If you’re new to the Marty’s Place blog, welcome! We’re so glad you found us. Marty’s Place was founded in 2015 by Doreen Jakubcak in honor of her senior dog, Marty. Doreen and her family adopted Marty in his elderly years and gave him a safe and loving home until he crossed the rainbow bridge in 2010. You can learn more about how Marty’s Place got started, our mission/vision and other details here.
Marty’s Place is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and it is the generosity, kindness and donations from the community that allow us to house senior dogs without homes in the safe, loving, family-like environment of our sanctuary. They receive the physical care and companionship, medical attention, exercise, and affection they need to thrive 365 days a year.
Howl-O-Ween Family Fest
Throughout the year, we fundraise in many ways through partnerships with local restaurants, breweries and businesses, planned giving, online shopping, and more. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is on site right at Marty’s Place every October – the annual Howl-O-Ween Family Fest, which takes place this year on Saturday, October 18th from 12 noon to 5pm.
There is so much fun packed into the day (for only a $10 admission fee, kids 10 and under are free!) including our most popular event – the K9 Costume Contest, agility demonstrations and participation, “Sniff or Treat” nose work station, pup-friendly hayrides, music, vendors, food trucks, gift basket and 50/50 cash raffles, carnival games, and so much more fun for children, adults, and canines.
Back again this year…
- A pie eating contest for both canines and their humans – The canine pie eating contests will feature four groups depending on weight, with a 15 dog limit per group, starting at 2:15 (see event page for full schedule). If you are a brave human who would like to take on other brave, pie-loving humans (15 person limit), we have a pie eating contest just for you at 2:35pm. Check out our event page for specific sign up and timing information.
- Talent contests for the canines – Do you have a Boxer who can box? A Doodle who can doodle? Maybe your dog’s talent is simply being cute. Whatever they can do is perfect because there’s no talent required for this contest! We want you to show off your dogs and whatever adorable things they can do – even if that’s just existing! Rolling over, shaking hands/paws, speaking – no “talent” is too small for this competition. The contest starts at 1:30. Check out our event page for registration times and more info.
- Costume contest – Registration is open from 12-2:30pm and the contest starts at 3:00pm. You must be registered by 2:30pm to participate. Prizes will be awarded for Most Creative, Best Duo/Group, Best Senior Dog Costume, and Cutest.
Marty’s Place Volunteer, Michelle Jahn with the cutest little costume contest participant!
Tik Tok celebrity – Dr. Adam Christman the Dachshund Doc will be emceeing the costume, pie eating and talent contests!
- Local craft beer and wine garden for the adults 21 and over. Check out these incredible vendors to add some extra spirit(s) to the day. Cheers!
- Animal communicator mini-readings with Marcia Minunni of Tails of Wellness – Readings offer clarity, guidance and insights – all from your pet’s point of view. Readings are $35 and must be purchased in advance in our event offers starting Saturday, October 4 at 9am. There is a 5-limit event for the day so mark your calendar as sign-ups are first come, first served. Check out our event page for more detailed info on what you need to know before scheduling a reading. The proceeds from the readings go directly to Marty’s Place to help senior dogs.
New this year
- New K9 activity: “Sniff or Treat” nose work by Pawsitively Purrfect
- On-site t-shirt screening by Epoch Print Shop
- Music by Spencer from Pop Gold Radio
- Expanded Carnival games for adults & kids with great prizes!
- More exciting food options!
Ways to Participate/Support
- Come to the event! Tickets for admission are $10 per person and children under 10 are free. Plan to stay for as long as possible as we have a fantastic schedule of activities from start to finish. Check out the full schedule here.
- Purchase a 50-50 ticket (50/50 tickets are cash only – $5 per ticket) now or in person at the event. If you’re unable to attend but would like to purchase 50-50 tickets please email: info@martysplace.org. You don’t have to be present to win. Last year’s jackpot was over $31,000!
- Become a sponsor. Sponsorship opportunities are still available: Check out the event offerings for more information.
- Donate. Can’t join the event? You can still support this cause by donating online!
Tips to optimize your fun at Howl-O-Ween Family Fest
- Check the activity schedule and plan accordingly! There are so many fun activities happening throughout the day so you don’t want to miss anything. And some – like the talent, costume and pie eating contests – require registration. To get all the times, visit our event page.
- Bring a chair or blanket. While we provide tables and chairs and hay bales for seating near the main stage, you are welcome to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets.
- Bring your dog! Well socialized dogs are welcome. Dogs must be leashed (not longer than 6ft leash, no retractable leashes) at all times and you are responsible for cleaning up after your pet.
- Bring your kids! Children are welcome at the event but should be supervised at all times. Children are not permitted to climb on the farm equipment, are not allowed in the beer garden and should be respectful when approaching unfamiliar dogs.
- Be prepared with payment methods. 50-50 tickets are cash only, and cash is preferred for entry fee. Elsewhere in the event cash, check, credit card, Venmo, Zelle and PayPal will be accepted.
- Plan to stay for the duration. To really enjoy all that Howl-O-Ween Family Fest has to offer, plan to stay as long as you can. We promise you a day packed with fun from start to finish!
How you can help Marty’s Place and senior dogs
The money raised from Howl-O-Ween supports dogs not only living at Marty’s Place, but also our forever foster program and senior pet assistance programs.
Our lifelong foster program enables us to save the lives of more dogs by safely placing them in well-vetted forever homes. We make it affordable by providing financial assistance for our fostered dogs as we cover expenses for medical care, food and basic supplies.
Our Senior Pet Assistance Program provides financial assistance to qualified senior citizens, making it possible to keep a senior dog in their homes despite financial challenges they may face. This program covers veterinarian visits for certain preventative screenings, food and medicine, medical grooming and dental care. If specialty care is needed, this will be considered on an individual basis.
We are always looking to expand the number of dogs we help. Your generosity is how we make this happen. Please consider attending Howl-O-Ween or donating in other ways. We can’t wait to see you and your family (human and canine) on October 18 at the Howl-O-Ween Family Fest. The staff, volunteers and pups are all so grateful for your support!
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