Rochester’s Dogs Downtown: Everything You Need to Know
Dogs Downtown is coming back this month in downtown Rochester. If you have a dog, you're invited to bring your dog downtown for the event to meet other dogs, you could meet other dog parents, and there will be booths with plenty of dog goodies.
It's coming up September 26th. Here's what you need to know for the event.
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Dogs Downtown in Rochester, MN 2026
This year's Dogs Downtown will be on Saturday, September 26th at Central Park in downtown Rochester.
The event will go from 11 AM to 3 PM with plenty of fun activities and booths to check out and it's free to attend.
Quick side note: If your dog isn't comfortable with other dogs, you should leave them at home. There will be LOTS of dogs in attendance and no one wants there to be a fight.
Anyway, at the event, there's going to be crafts, activities, games, and giveaways. There are photo ops, artists, I've seen a 'Smooch a Pooch' booth and an agility area too at past Dogs Downtown events.
Something that I personally think is really cool is a chance for you to test and see if your dog would be a good fit as a hospital therapy dog.
When I was in middle school/high school my family thought about volunteering with my dog at the time to be a hospital therapy dog. We never got around to doing it unfortunately but I think it would be such a rewarding thing to do.
If you've considered it and thought your dog would have the right temperament, the Mayo Clinic Caring Canine's free hospital simulation room will be available at Dogs Downtown to test out your dogs skills.
