Paws in the Park returns to Orlando’s Lake Eola, drawing crowds for Pet Alliance fundraiser
A downtown Orlando pet festival pairs family activities with animal-welfare fundraising
Paws in the Park, an annual pet festival benefiting Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, brought hundreds of attendees to Lake Eola Park on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. The free, public event ran from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and featured dog-centered activities, vendor exhibits, food options and on-site adoption opportunities.
Held at Lake Eola Park in the heart of downtown, the festival has become a major community gathering for pet owners and animal-welfare supporters. Event programming was designed to be both recreational and mission-driven, with fundraising tied to Pet Alliance’s shelter and veterinary efforts supporting dogs and cats across Central Florida.
Costume contest leads off the day, with local figures among judges
The event opened with a pet costume contest, a longstanding centerpiece that draws many early arrivals. Photographs from the festival show a range of themed entries and a stage-style judging format. State Rep. Anna Eskamani participated as a judge during the contest, and the winning entry was a dog named Taz, dressed as “The King of Pawp.”
Beyond the contest, the day’s atmosphere reflected a broad, family-oriented crowd, including children, pet owners and groups posing for photos around the park.
Activities, vendors and adoptions form the core of the festival
Organizers promoted Paws in the Park as Florida’s largest pet festival, emphasizing hands-on experiences for dogs alongside attractions for people. Festival offerings included dog-sport demonstrations and participation areas, as well as a large vendor footprint.
- Dog activities and sports areas, including lure-course style attractions and an agility component promoted for this year’s event
- Food-truck dining options and a beer garden
- More than 100 pet-focused vendors offering products and services
- Adoption opportunities, with photos showing puppies in play pens and attendees interacting with adoptable animals
Fundraising supports sheltering and veterinary services
While admission is free, the event’s fundraising component is intended to support Pet Alliance’s animal-welfare work. Promotional materials for the 2026 event stated that contributions help fund sheltering, care and adoption services, with an annual goal tied to helping thousands of animals. Pet Alliance is widely known in the region for shelter operations as well as low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary clinic services.
Paws in the Park combines a public festival format with a fundraising model aimed at sustaining animal-care services and increasing adoptions.
The 2026 edition continues the festival’s established formula: a highly visible downtown event that uses entertainment and pet-centered programming to drive engagement with adoption and animal-welfare support.