Full Notification

San Mateo, CA — Get ready for tail wags and community fun at Central Bark, hosted by San Mateo Police Activities League (San Mateo PAL) in partnership with San Mateo Parks & Recreation! The event takes place Sunday, August 17, 2025, from 12–3 PM at Fitzgerald Field in Central Park, San Mateo.

This dog-friendly festival brings together local families, pet lovers, and supporters of youth programs for an afternoon filled with engaging activities, raffles, and treats—for both humans and pups.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
12:00pm - Event Begins
                Raffle opens
                Dog contest check-in begins
12:45pm – Dog contest check-in closes (registration must be made in advance)
                Best Bark
                Best Trick
                Best Look Alike
1:00pm – Dog contest begins!
1:45pm – Raffle ends
2:00pm – Raffle winners & dog contest announced
3:00pm – Event ends

Event Highlights Include:

• 🐶 Dog Contests
• 👮‍♂️ K9 Demonstrations
• 🛍️ Local Vendors & Community Booths
• 🎶 Music & Activities
• 🎟️ Raffle Prizes
• 🍔 Food Trucks
• 🍻 Beverages by Devil’s Canyon Brewery Co. (A portion of beverage sales supports PAL)

Dog Contest:
 Three (3) winners receive a gift basket filled with dog toys, treats, and a $25 gift certificate for Lazy Dog Restaurant. All contestants receive a free dog meal from Lazy Dog Restaurant. Sign-up to join the dog contest.

Registration is $20 per dog (limit one category per dog). Visit www.sanmateorec.org to register now! Create a free account (if you currently do not have one) and register using the following activity codes:
o   Best Bark – 782901-A
o   Best Trick – 782901-B
o   Best Lookalike (their owner) – 782901-C
 
Categories include:
Best Bark
Best Trick
Best Look Alike (their owner)!
 
Registration closes Wednesday, August 13. Registration is limited, so sign-up fast!
 
For more information on how to register, visit www.cityofsanmateo.org/specialevents.
 
Sponsors Making This Possible:
We’re proud to be supported by our generous sponsors:
⭐️ Wag!
⭐️ AMR
⭐️Chris Eckert Real Estate Team
⭐️Police Chief Ed Barberini

Community Partners:

• Copper’s Dream Animal Rescue Pet Adopton
• Office of Assemblymember Diane Papan
• Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA
• SamTrans
• San Mateo Police Department Neighborhood Watch

Local Vendors & Participants Include:

• Lenity
• Cody’s Cookies and Treats
• MotherPuppin Enriching Time
• Sage
• Oro Pro Plumbing
• Happy Paw Happy Days
• Paymore SSF
• San Mateo PAL & City of San Mateo Parks & Rec
• San Mateo Police Officers’ (SMPOA) & K9 Associations

 
Raffle tickets will be on sale from 12:00pm to 1:45pm. Winners will be announced at 2:00pm. Tickets will be available for sale at the PAL booth as well as through any of our Police Explorers!

Paw-some Pup Gift Basket (10 lucky winners!)
Treat your furry friend to a tail-wagging surprise! These delightful baskets, donated by Petco include a variety of treats for your Pup. From adorable plush dog stuffies, a mix of tasty dog treats, stylish outfits, to a selection of long-lasting chew bones for hours of entertainment.

Scrub a Pup Gift Certificate
A gift card good for five (5) free nail trims or self-serve washes. Value $100

Hillsdale Shopping Center Excursion Package
This prize package includes a $20 Lids gift card, a $25 Mrs. Fields Cookies gift card, and a $25 Blue Whale Poke Bar & Grill gift card

Adventures and Eats Package
Enjoy 2 admission tickets to the Hiller Aviation Museum and a $25 gift card for Lazy Dog Restaurant!

Dinner and a Movie Package
Two tickets to Cinemark and a $25 gift certificate to California Pizza Kitchen!
 
Whether you're there to walk your furry friend, shop local, or just enjoy a beautiful day at the park, Central Bark has something for everyone.