HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) – Anicira, a nonprofit veterinary hospital serving the Shenandoah Valley, is marking its 20th anniversary of service with a Celebration of Pets Festival on Saturday, September 13, from Noon to 5:00 PM at Brix & Columns Vineyards in McGaheysville.

This free-admission, family-friendly event invites the community to celebrate the unique bond between people and their pets while supporting Anicira’s mission to care for sick and injured animals. Guests are encouraged to bring leashed dogs (spayed or neutered, on non-retractable leashes) and enjoy a day full of fun, games, music, and local food and beverages. Those without pets are also welcome to join the festivities.

Activities for all ages include:

  • Walking Course for Pets
  • Dog Paw Print Art and Canvas Painting
  • Pie-Eating Contest for Pups
  • Face Painting, Sand Art, Tie-Dye, and Teddy Bear Surgery Simulation for Kids
  • Dog Agility and Training Demonstrations
  • Live Music by Uncle Jesse Band and DJ Wedding XTC, with contests for pets
  • Adoptable pets from the Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA
  • Free books for kids from Massanutten Regional Library and resources from HCHC vendors …and much more!

Food, beverages, and specialty items will be available for purchase from local vendors, including Brix & Columns’ wine and hard cider, Mashita, Pizza Louise, Flotzie’s Soft Serve, Shenandoah Valley Reserve, Thistle Hill Pet Treats, and more. Guests can also enjoy a raffle, auction, and activities for all ages. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets and spend the afternoon celebrating the bond between pets and the people who love them.

For more information about the event, please visit https://anicira.org/locations/pets-festival/.

Anicira has much to celebrate in its 20th year of nonprofit service to our community. In 2024 alone, Anicira provided over $750,000 in free veterinary care to over 3,300 families and provided over 433,000 nutritious meals for dogs and cats through their twice-monthly free Pet Food Pantry in Harrisonburg.