Nottingham County Park will be the site of “Bark in the Park,” a dog-friendly festival, on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The event promotes responsible dog ownership and brings together local and regional services and recreational opportunities for families with dogs.

“This event is a great way to celebrate dogs and promote the great outdoors, accompanied by a man’s best friend,” said Jay Gregg, superintendent of Nottingham County Park. “It is just one of the many family activities that we offer at the park throughout the year.”

Food and activity vendors, skill demonstrators, educators and display booths will be on site, along with a new feature -- treibball -- a sport where the dog must gather and drive large exercise balls into a soccer goal. It has also been referred to as "rolling sheep" because it resembles sheep herding.

Additional demonstrations and programs include Mason-Dixon Rescue Dog’s search and rescue; Championship Tracking; Chester County SPCA’s micro-chipping; Keystone Animal Hospital’s “Ask the Vet!” station, and Vixen Hall Kennel’s AKC Canine Good Citizenship Testing. There are also animal well-being sessions on pet disaster preparedness, canine dental health, and fear-free veterinary care.

A selection of crafts and other items for dogs will be for sale, and there will be face painting and a ranger-led hike through the park’s back country.

Visitors are asked to keep dogs on a leash at all times, have current rabies vaccinations for their dogs, and properly dispose of all dog waste. Mutt mitt bags will be distributed at the entrance gate, and waste and water stations will be available throughout the event area.

There is a $5 parking fee, but admission to the event is free. Nottingham County Park is six miles south of Oxford, off Route 1. For more information, visit www.chesco.org/ccparks or call 610-932-2589.