Don’t be fooled by the somewhat familiar-sounding name. “Dog-A-Roo” may be a playful, canine-inspired take on the popular music festival Bonnaroo, but Elton John will not be there. And neither will Skrillex nor Lionel Richie. This is a different kind of festival, created to bring dogs and their humans together for a day of fun in the sun at Shelby Farms. Also, there’s some good news for everyone who expects at least some music connected to any event employing the “a-roo” suffix. The Memphis-based band Chinese Connection Dub Embassy will set up at the finish line to serenade everybody who completes the Four-Legged 4K with a little power reggae.
The Four-Legged 4K, which takes runners on a winding path through some of the most scenic areas of Shelby Farms’ “Outback,” is a bit of a misnomer since humans are invited to run alongside their pets. It’s really more of a six-legged race, and both two-legged and four-legged participants will receive matching bandanas.
Although the Shelby Farms Outback Dog Park is an off-leash environment, for this special event all dogs must be on-leash. Admission for the Dog-A-Roo festival is free, but pre-registration for the run is $25, and there is a $5 per-car parking fee, which benefits Shelby Farms Park and Shelby Farms Greenline.
Dog-A-Roo Festival and Four-legged 4K is at The Outback Off-Leash Dog Park at Shelby Farms Park, Saturday, May 10th, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The 4K begins at noon. shelbyfarmspark.org
