Date/Time
Date(s) - Saturday, July 23, 2022
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Location
Springwater Conservation Area
IT’S ABOUT THE LOVE OF ALL DOGS…
Pawsitively Elgin (PAWS) is a 100% volunteer-driven organization. We hold a one-day annual dog festival in the beautiful Springwater Conservation Area. The festival was created to bring awareness to dog adoption and animal rescues, not just in Elgin County, but across Ontario and Canada.
PAWS is run by a Trust and all funds raised through the event are donated to the named beneficiaries for the event year. Over the past 2 “pandemic” years, we have been raising money through online events and have been able to help not only our beneficiaries, but also other Ontario rescues with money towards their vet bills and sending items for their fundraising events. To date we have raised and distributed over $30,000 to rescues.
We are the largest dog event in Elgin County. Established in 2017 with our first event in July 2018, our event increased in size roughly by 25% the following year and after coming out of a 2-year pandemic, we project this year’s event will exceed 25%.
Each year at the end of July in the beautiful Springwater Conservation Area, we rent the entire 6 acres of the “Day Use and East Campground” for the day which includes the stage, concession stand and the pond and beach area. Springwater is located between St. Thomas and Aylmer Ontario, which is roughly in the centre of Elgin County. Attendees and exhibitors have traveled from as far as Toronto, Barrie, Windsor and Bracebridge to attend, and others as close as the West Campground of Springwater.
Entertainment is scheduled across the entire day along with contests on the stage for the attendees and their dogs, with fabulous prizes donated by sponsors and exhibitors. Our “Smooch a Pooch” photo booth is a huge hit every year.
Our exhibitors and sponsors enjoy large campground sites. They are always thrilled to hear that they can pull their vehicles up and park behind their tents if they want. We have direct sales reps and crafters as well as local businesses join us. We also have a Kid Entrepreneur (grade 12 or under) program which gives kids with proven businesses a free site. Nonprofits and animal rescues are also given a free site. There are a limited number of sites for both.