Dog owners across Champlin can mark their calendars for Wednesday, August 19, when the city's Mississippi Crossings riverfront hosts the return of Paws in the Park from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The free community event brings together character meet-and-greets, adoptable dogs, vendor booths and hands-on pet services along the Mississippi River, with all dogs required to stay leashed throughout the evening.
According to the City of Champlin, this year's lineup includes appearances by Bluey and Bingo, dog demonstrations, dog crafts and a stretch of vendor booths, while Jensen's Market fires up the grill for attendees looking for a bite. The gathering continues an annual tradition at the venue, following last year's edition held on the same weekend in August 2025, according to QCTV. Elm Creek Animal Hospital is serving as the event's title sponsor, with the City of Champlin also listed as a sponsor, per the city's announcement.
Where the Party Sits Along the River
Paws in the Park takes place at Mississippi Crossings Event Center, 307 East River Parkway, a riverfront facility that includes a banquet space, an outdoor amphitheater, open lawn and a playground overlooking the Mississippi River, according to Eventective. The venue has become something of a hub for Champlin's public gatherings this year, having also hosted Father Hennepin Fest and served as a Ward 1 polling site during the city's Ward 3 special election.
Leashing rules are strictly enforced for the evening, with dogs required to stay on leashes no longer than six feet — a standard mirrored in municipal ordinances across Hennepin County, where local governments mandate that dogs remain under control on a short leash whenever they're off private property or in public parks, according to the City of Crystal's animal control division. City officials have also flagged pet waste as a water-quality concern along the riverfront, noting that uncollected waste in public parks can wash into storm drains and eventually into bodies of water like the Mississippi River, introducing bacteria and excess nutrients that fuel algae growth, per the City of Champlin.
License Your Dog on the Spot
The Champlin Police Department will offer on-site pet licensing during the event, accepting cash or check only. A two-year license costs $12 under City Ordinance No. 729, though owners who can't produce proof of rabies vaccination on the spot will need to pay a $25 deposit, with impoundment fees starting at $75 for dogs picked up without current tags. Vaccination proof remains a requirement for licensing regardless of payment method.
Rescues and a Milestone Service-Dog Group
Several regional animal welfare organizations will have a presence at Paws in the Park, including FaerieLand Rescue, an Anoka County-based, foster-driven nonprofit that has placed more than 400 German Shepherds and Welsh Corgis since its founding in 2009, according to Sniffspot. Also attending is Leech Lake Legacy, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit that has rescued and transferred more than 9,000 surrendered animals while running low-cost veterinary clinics on the Leech Lake Reservation, as reported by The Circle News.
Can Do Canines, based in New Hope, will also be on hand. The organization has trained and placed service dogs free of charge for people with disabilities since 1989 and recently celebrated its 1,000th assistance dog team placement, according to CCX Media. Its dogs assist with mobility, hearing, diabetic alerts, seizure response and autism support.
Demonstrations, Treats and Local Vendors
The Twin Cities Dog Powered Sports Club is set to demonstrate dryland mushing sports such as bikejoring, scooter racing, canicross and weight pulling, adapting sled-dog disciplines for dirt trails during the warmer months, per RunSignup. Vendor booths will include Frosty Dog LLC, a Twin Cities small-batch frozen treat maker known for peanut butter bones and fruit swirl sticks that the company also sells from a mobile treat truck at regional parks and pop-up events, according to the business's own site.
Beyond the featured rescues and demonstrations, the city's lineup includes a long roster of area pet businesses expected to staff booths, among them PetSuites, Pretty Paws, Champlin Park Pet Hospital, Soothing Souls LLC, Zoom Room Dog Training, Chuck & Don's of Coon Rapids, Luca and the Five Girls, Paw House Grooming, Namaste and Play Dog Yoga, That Witch Stitch, Waldron Creations, Stone Mountain Pet Lodge, Legend-ary Pet Treats, Lucky Dog Mobile Grooming, Armstrong Ranch Kennels, A Pawfect Look, Furry Tails Pet Grooming Salon and Scenthound, per the city's event listing.
