Dogs are commonplace at farmers markets.
Whether you’re grabbing your fresh eggs for the week or a few specific vegetables, there’s bound to be a four-legged friend somewhere. Now, they will have their own event at the NOVA Central Farm Market on Sunday, Sept. 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Collar Greens Health and Wellness Day will feature live cooking demonstrations of pet-friendly recipes, market food tours led by registered dietitians from Virginia Hospital Group, kids’ activities such as live music and a make-your-own dog bone magnet craft, veterinarian pet talks and certified diabetes educator health talks.
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Aside from the scheduled events, humans and their pups can peruse over 40 local vendors of fresh meat, dairy products, desserts, prepared to-go foods and more.
Wrap up the morning by watching a live demonstration of service dogs led by scent detection expert Debby Kay. Kay is an internationally recognized leader in service training through her Super Sniffer program, now in 22 countries, which helps thousands of people utilize the talents of canine scent abilities.
Attendees can also get more information on participating veterinary clinics and service providers at vendor tables throughout the day. The Fairfax County Animal Shelter and Homeward Trails Animal Rescue will also be present to interact with community members and will accept small donations to help local adoptable dogs find homes.
Before attending, be sure to enter your pup in the “Cutest Dog Photo Contest.” Upload a photo of your dog to Instagram using the hashtag #centralfarmdogcontest. Winners will be announced at 11 a.m. on Sunday. The cutest pups will go home with $25 Central Farm Markets gift certificates and be entered to win the Grand Prize Drawing (a $500 value). // NOVA Central Farm Market: 7731 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; free