Barktoberfest 2024: Thousands flock to Brisbane for a Pawsome Day, featured on Australia's #1 Morning Show!
If you were wondering what a dinosaur, a Jurassic Park truck, Woody from Toy Story, and a dog festival all have in common, let us introduce you to Barktoberfest! This past Saturday, we celebrated our 8th annual Barktoberfest at Carseldine Markets, and it was nothing short of legendary. Thousands of dog lovers and their furry friends gathered from all across Brisbane (some traveling over an hour and a half!) to join in on the fun. What started as a small event has grown into something truly special, drawing in a whole new audience while also boosting awareness of our regular Saturday Farmers Markets.
Australia's #1 Morning Show: Barktoberfest Featured on Sunrise
On Saturday, 12th October, from 6am to 12pm, Barktoberfest kicked off with a special Sunrise live broadcast—Australia’s number one morning show, reaching over 3.2 million viewers on a Saturday morning (Sunrise Media Release, August 2024). They caught up with a few of our fashionable four-legged friends ahead of the highly anticipated Strike a Paws doggy fashion parade—because, yes, dogs in costumes deserve a runway too!
Carseldine Farmers Markets: Home of annual Barktoberfest
We had over 200 specialty vendors, including regular market favourites offering everything from fresh farm produce to unique artisanal creations, plus a wide selection of the best food trucks in South East Queensland. It was a perfect blend of shopping, eating, and (of course) pampering our pups.
Speaking of pampering, the day was jam-packed with entertainment, starting with our Pawsome Performer Doggy Trick Demonstration. The crowd was blown away by Sunshine, a star performer who skipped rope alongside her owner in matching outfits—earning them first place and all the bragging rights!
Supporting Animal Welfare: Guest Speakers and Fundraising Efforts
The day wasn’t just about fun though—our friends at Animal Welfare League Queensland were on hand to raise awareness about pet adoption and the importance of hydration on hot days.
The Animal Welfare League Queensland also hosted a raffle to raise funds, with a lucky attendee walking away with a hamper filled to the brim with doggie goodies.
Thanks to the generosity of our attendees, they raised nearly $800, which will go towards vacations and preventive care for the beautiful furry friends at the shelter.
Strike a Paws: The Doggy Fashion Parade Steals the Show
Of course, the highlight of the day had to be the Strike a Paws Doggy Fashion Parade. With 25 incredibly stylish contestants, the competition was fierce, but for the second year running, Breeze and her dog Jet stole the show.
Other standout costumes included a dog dressed as Mozart, complete with a violin-playing human, and two dapper pups rocking gold-embroidered suits. It was, without a doubt, a fashion show for the ages.
Relive the Day: Barktoberfest Captured on Channel 7 News
To wrap up the festivities, we announced the winners of our Pawparazzi Photo Competition, with five lucky categories taking home some fabulous prizes. And just when we thought the day couldn’t get any better, Channel 7 crashed the party, giving Barktoberfest a spot on the 6 o’clock news!
All in all, it was a day of fun, fur, and fashion, and we couldn’t have asked for a better turnout. Thank you to everyone who came out and made Barktoberfest 2024 a howling success—we can’t wait to do it all again next year Saturday, 11th October 2025!
