Horizon West Pet Fest is free, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on the green at Hamlin, with pet contests, adoptions, a Pet Parade and a Kids Zone.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. Facts come from the organizer, Horizon West Happenings’ Pet Fest page, its event listing and Hamlin’s events page. This page is updated for each year’s festival at the same address.

Horizon West Pet Fest is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, on the green space next to the Hamlin parking garage, 14111 Shoreside Way. Admission is free. Bring the kids and the pets: there are pet contests, training demos, rescue groups with adoptable animals and a Pet Parade at 12:15 p.m.

Know before you go

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
  • Where: green space next to the Hamlin parking garage, near Cinepolis, 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden
  • Cost: free, including the Kids Zone
  • Organizer: Horizon West Happenings; RSVP on the organizer’s Facebook event, linked from its page
  • Questions: info@horizonwesthappenings.com

The schedule

The organizer lists this program on its Pet Fest page:

Time What
9:30 a.m. Peanut butter eating contest
9:45 a.m. Training demo with Sit Means Sit
10 a.m. Storytime and crafts in the Kids Zone
10:15 a.m. Peanut butter eating contest
10:30 a.m. Pet CPR with Hamlin Animal Hospital
11 a.m. Best Pets awards
11:30 a.m. Peanut butter eating contest
11:45 a.m. Training demo with Sit Means Sit
noon Storytime and crafts in the Kids Zone
12:15 p.m. Pet Parade, led by Sit Means Sit

Best Pets contest

Horizon West Happenings lists 10 categories this year:

  • Best Dressed
  • Tiniest Pup
  • Heaviest Hound
  • Best Trick
  • Old Timer
  • Fabulous Feline
  • Most Unique Pet
  • Best Team Spirit
  • Dynamite Duo (pet and owner)
  • Double Trouble (pet siblings)

Awards are at 11 a.m. Costumes are not required for the parade, the organizer says, “but they are definitely encouraged.”

What else is there

  • Adoptions and rescues. Local shelters and rescue groups bring pets looking for homes. The 2026 nonprofit partners listed are Candy’s Cats, Pet Alliance, Polka Dogz, Rotary Club of Pet Rescues Orlando and Horizon West American Legion Post 419.
  • Vendors. More than 25 businesses, from trainers and groomers to pet sitters and pet products, are on the organizer’s confirmed vendor list.
  • Kids Zone. Free from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: bounce houses, face painting, airbrush tattoos, crafts, storytime, caricatures and fall photo spots.
  • Food. Listed food vendors are Rest Or Run (coffee and crepes), 3Natives (acai bowls), Que Monchi (Venezuelan), Pogi’s Lumpia, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream and Jeremiah’s Italian Ice.

Parking and getting there

Pet Fest is on the lawn beside the Hamlin parking garage at Cinepolis. For its regular weekend events next to the same lawn, Hamlin points visitors to the first floor of the Cinepolis parking garage or street parking, according to Hamlin’s events page. The organizer has not announced any road closures; the festival is on the green, not a street. If you live nearby, walking or biking over saves the hunt for a space.

What to know

  • The Homegrown Market at Hamlin is the next morning, Sunday, Oct. 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., beside Home State Brewing Co.
  • Florida sun is strong even in October. Bring water for your dog and a mat or blanket for the grass.
  • The organizer does not list a rain date. Check its Pet Fest page on the morning if the weather turns.

Past years

Horizon West Happenings started Pet Fest in 2024: the first one was Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the same green, and the 2025 festival was Saturday, Oct. 11. It has been held on a Saturday in mid-October each year.

More in Horizon West

Frequently asked questions

When is Horizon West Pet Fest 2026?

Saturday, Oct. 17, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on the green space next to the Hamlin parking garage at 14111 Shoreside Way, Winter Garden.

Is Horizon West Pet Fest free?

Yes. Horizon West Happenings, the organizer, says admission is free and includes the Kids Zone, with bounce houses, face painting, airbrush tattoos, crafts and storytime.

What time is the Pet Parade at Pet Fest?

The Pet Parade starts at 12:15 p.m., led by Sit Means Sit. Costumes are not required but are encouraged, the organizer says.

What are the Best Pets contest categories?

There are 10: Best Dressed, Tiniest Pup, Heaviest Hound, Best Trick, Old Timer, Fabulous Feline, Most Unique Pet, Best Team Spirit, Dynamite Duo and Double Trouble. Awards are at 11 a.m.

Where do I park for Pet Fest at Hamlin?

The festival is on the green beside the Hamlin parking garage at Cinepolis. Hamlin points visitors to the garage’s first floor and street parking for its weekend events on the same lawn.