Dog owners and their four-legged companions will have a chance to celebrate all things canine when Barkfest comes to Tauranga for the first time later this year.

The free community festival will be held at Memorial Park on Sunday, November 22, following the success of its inaugural event in Cambridge, which attracted more than 1000 people and their dogs.

Barkfest organiser Janette Douglas said in a statement that the event was inspired by her own dog, Badger, and aims to create a fun, inclusive day for dog lovers.

“The response to our first Barkfest in Cambridge was amazing, and it was great to see how much the community embraced the event,” Douglas said.

“We’re really excited to now bring Barkfest to Tauranga and give local dog owners the chance to be part of the fun.”

The festival will feature a range of competitions, activities, demonstrations, educational master classes and dog-related stallholders.

Popular events are expected to include the Dog Dash, Waggiest Tail and Best Trick competitions.

Barkfest Tauranga is free to attend thanks to support from the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support of the Tauranga Western Bay Community Event Fund,” Douglas said.

“Keeping Barkfest free and accessible is important to us, and this funding helps us create a welcoming community day that families and dog lovers can enjoy together.”