Get ready to grab your lead! The inaugural Woof Wag Festival, a brand-new, large-scale celebration of canine companionship, is set to launch at the iconic Wicksteed Park in Kettering on Saturday 16th May 2026.
The Woof Wag Festival is the brainchild of Tina Elven, founder of Woof Wag, a non-profit initiative dedicated to strengthening the unique bond between owners and their dogs by building a confident canine community. The event promises a jam-packed day of fun and positive activities for the entire family.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the Woof Wag Festival to life at such a central and well-loved location,” said Tina Elven. “Kettering, with one of the largest ratios of dogs to humans in the UK, makes Wicksteed Park the ideal venue for us to celebrate our love of dogs. We aim to provide experiences and surprises that truly explore the world from both ends of the lead.”
The Woof Wag Festival is planned to offer a complete immersive experience, focusing on positive, force-free interactions, it is designed to be an enjoyable experience for everyone in the family. To make all of this a reality, Woof Wag Festival will be collaborating with professionals from all parts of the pet world.
Have-A-Go Activities – dogs will have the chance to try out various dog sports and enrichment activities, suitable for both beginners and experienced dogs and handlers.
Woof Wag Wellbeing – dog experts will host talks and live masterclasses, providing invaluable tips and knowledge on everything from positive training, first-aid, well-being and helping dog owners understand how to communicate and ‘speak dog’.
Dog Market – visitors will be able to browse a wide range of products and services from the carefully selected pet loving stall holders that will be present on the day of the festival.
The Kids Zone – a dedicated area where children can engage in doggie stories, art activities, and allowing them to discover how to form safer, stronger, and life-long bonds with their family dog.
Dog Shows – friendly dog shows will feature categories for pooches of all shapes and sizes, with beautiful rosettes and prizes up for grabs.
Dog Detective Treasure Hunt – a unique activity that encourages physical interaction, as you and your dog follow a trail around the beautiful Wicksteed parkland.
Tina shares “I’m thrilled to reveal how our Woof Wag Festival found its home at Wicksteed Park. The journey began when I had the pleasure of meeting the Mayor of Kettering, Councillor Ben Jameson, at a local community event. Knowing that Wicksteed Park is his dedicated Charity of the Year, I spoke to him about our vision for a large-scale dog festival at the venue. Mayor Ben’s enthusiastic support and swift introduction to the Wicksteed team were invaluable. Thanks to his immediate assistance and the shared connection to his chosen charity, we secured a meeting to present our ideas, and the rest, as they say, is history – we are now delighted to be bringing the Woof Wag Festival to the park.”
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday 16th May 2026 from 10am to 4pm.
“By championing positive interactions and making the Woof Wag Festival FREE to enter, we are breaking down barriers, making the event accessible to everyone in our dog-loving community,” Tina added. “We look forward to seeing thousands of wagging tails on the day!”
The festival entrance is free for anyone coming along, but people are encouraged to register for a FREE festival ticket online, which includes entry into a prize draw for one of the 300 goodie bags donated by Woof Wag.
For further information and to claim your FREE ticket, please visit WoofWagFestival.uk.
