The 2023 Pets and Pumpkins Festival was held on Saturday, October 21st from 11 am to 4 pm. Held downtown, attendees were treated to different types of vendors, organizations, and some amazing pet and human costumes. The festival comes on the heels of holiday festivals in the Springfield area such as Cider Days hosted in September and Ozark Fall Farmfest which occurred earlier in the month.  

Event organizers explained that “the 14th year was a grand success, with lots of vendors, games, food, music, fun–AND Pets!” There were performances and demos on the stage all day, plus around 200 people/pets in the Walking Parade & Costume Contest. We saw dogs, cats, a goat, a rabbit, and even a chicken! 

Event organizers explained that family festivals like this are great opportunities to reflect on our lives and realize that “every kid, both 2-legged and 4-legged, deserves a loving family!” 

I had the opportunity to attend accompanied by my parents and two puppies. Quickly I was overwhelmed with the number of pets and pet owners dressed up in Halloween costumes. From all dog Minion costumes to dogs dyed to look like tigers, it was obvious some pet owners were going all out for the costume parade. My personal favorite was the Springfield area family that dressed like the members of the Scooby Doo gang and decorated their wagon to look like the Mystery Machine van. As we continued around the square, there were countless tents offering crafts, games, and photo props for a cute picture with your favorite 4-legged friend. There were also a few food and beverage stations. One station was selling honey-coated nuts which went perfectly with a personally squeezed lemonade from a neighboring station.  

For your 4-legged friends, there were several tents handing out treats and goodie bags while offering a shaded place to hang out and enjoy some refreshing water. My puppies’ personal favorite was the mini dog pool full of plastic balls. They made an absolute mess with the balls, but their happiness was contagious and really matched the overall mood of the festival. 

Besides all the fun, one of the BEST things about Pets and Pumpkins is that almost 100% of the gate fee is donated to “8 different [local] charities – 4 children and 4 pets” according to event organizers. Many of these local charities were present at the event too, sharing literature and marketing materials while adding to the family atmosphere. 

Be sure to keep an eye out for future fall festivals as the holiday season is just around the corner.