September is a great time to visit Long Beach with your dog, especially when Dog-O-Rama comes to town. The dog has had breakfast, you have coffee, and the beach is there before the festival energy begins. That is how I would approach Dog-O-Rama 2026, September 18 through 20, as a weekend with your dog instead of a checklist of events.
Dogs have been part of my Long Beach story for a long time. In 2012, when I started working on the cabin that became my first vacation rental, my dog Patty started coming to the beach with me. For years, he rode along on those trips, waited while I worked, and knew exactly when I was finally heading toward the dunes.
Patty is gone now, but some of my favorite memories of Long Beach are still tied to those walks with him. He had a way of reminding me that the work could wait for a little while. I wrote more about those years in My Dog Patty.
That is part of why a weekend like Dog-O-Rama means something to me. There is plenty happening, from disc dogs and AKC events to costume contests and a Pup Parade, but leave some room for the simple part too: walking the beach with your dog, getting sandy, and spending that time together.
How Should You Plan Dog-O-Rama 2026 With Your Dog?
Start with your dog rather than the printed schedule.
Some dogs can watch a field full of running dogs, music, people, and flying discs all afternoon. Others have a wonderful hour and then start giving you that look. I think a good dog weekend leaves room for both.
The official Dog-O-Rama 2026 schedule currently begins Friday, September 18, with a free Pup Parade from the Port of Ilwaco to Ilwaco Cider Company. Saturday and Sunday spread events between Veterans Field, Bolstad Beach Approach, and the Dune Meadows fields.
Pick two or three things you genuinely want to see. Leave the rest open.
That gives you the freedom to head for the beach when your dog needs space, come home for a few hours, then return later if everyone still has energy.
Which Events Work for an Everyday Family Dog?
You do not need a champion disc dog.
One of the more interesting parts of Dog-O-Rama is the mix of serious competition and things ordinary dogs can try. Saturday’s current schedule includes try-it rally and agility courses at Veterans Field, dog games, the Perky Pup Tricks Contest, and the Pup Strut Costume Contest. Dune Meadows hosts the more athletic disc and AKC events.
That gives you choices. You can watch dogs doing things you and I probably could not teach ours in a weekend, then try something relaxed with your own dog.
Sunday has another good option. The free Fido FitDog Walk is scheduled to begin at Bolstad Beach Approach at 9 a.m., followed by another day of events around Veterans Field and Dune Meadows. The Ilwaco High School Jazz Band is currently scheduled at Veterans Field from 2 to 3 p.m.
Schedules can move, so check the organizer’s page again before you leave the house.
What Do You Do When Your Dog Needs a Break?
Go west.
When Patty used to come to Long Beach with me, he always knew when I finally turned toward the beach. After a day of work, walking through the dunes and out to the Pacific changed the pace of the evening for both of us.
That same kind of break can be useful during Dog-O-Rama. A festival environment can be a lot for a dog, even a social one, and Long Beach gives you an easy alternative when you have had enough activity for a while.
The Long Beach Boardwalk is pet friendly for leashed dogs and connects naturally with the beach and Discovery Trail. The city also provides dog waste stations in its parks and trail system.
I would keep fresh water, waste bags, a towel, and a leash handy all weekend. Washington State Parks also asks visitors with dogs to bag waste, keep pets leashed, respect wildlife, and know which areas permit pets. Those are good rules anywhere along the peninsula.
If you want a longer nature break, our Cape Disappointment State Park guide will help you plan one. Check current Washington State Parks pet rules before heading out.
Where Should You Stay for Dog-O-Rama?
The place you come back to matters more on a dog trip, especially after a day of crowds, events, beach walks, and sandy paws.
All five Beachhousewa homes are dog friendly, and I have tried to make traveling with a dog a little easier in each one. Every home includes dog beds, dog dishes, and dog towels. Each property also has an outdoor setup where you can rinse off your dog after the beach.
Beach Cabin
Beach Cabin has an outdoor shower where you can use the showerhead to rinse off your dog after a sandy walk. There is also a foot wash that works especially well for cleaning paws before everyone heads back inside.
Lewis
Lewis has a dog cleaning station on the south side of the house with a handheld showerhead and warm water. It makes it easy to gently rinse your dog or give them a proper shampoo after a long day at the beach.
Lewis is a good fit for a smaller group, with two master suites with king beds and adjoining bathrooms, plus a hot tub, outdoor soaker tub, gas fireplace, and a short walk to the Pacific.
Clark
Clark has the same thoughtful cleaning setup on the south side of the house, with a handheld showerhead and warm water for rinsing sandy paws or washing your dog after the beach.
Clark is the newest Beachhousewa home and works especially well for a couple, two couples, or a small family. It has two master suites with king Tempur Pedic beds and sits about a five minute walk from the Pacific. Outside, there is a Hot Spring hot tub, fire table, and comfortable outdoor seating.
Seagrass
At Seagrass, the heated hose bib gives you several options after a beach day. You can use the outdoor shower or turn on the warm water at the hose for a gentle rinse before your dog comes inside.
For a larger group, Seagrass gives you plenty of room to spread out. It has five bedrooms, including three master suites, an ocean view, a large fully loaded game room, volleyball court, hot tub, and a location inside a gated community.
Ocean Trail
Ocean Trail has a double outdoor shower, so you can rinse yourself and your dog off at the same time without anyone having to stand around cold and sandy.
The home is oceanfront with a private path to the beach and has six bedrooms, including two master suites, along with a game room, outdoor fireplace, Tempur Pedic mattresses, and a hot tub.
The best home for Dog-O-Rama really comes down to the size of your group and which Beachhousewa experience fits your trip. Availability can move quickly around event weekends, so it is worth taking a look at all five homes when planning your stay.
What Would My Dog-O-Rama Weekend Look Like?
I would arrive Friday with very little scheduled beyond the Pup Parade.
Walk the dog, see Ilwaco, enjoy the parade, then head home before everybody gets tired and irritable. A vacation gets better when you know when to call it a day.
Saturday is the day to see the big event. Choose your favorite competitions, wander the activities around Veterans Field and Bolstad Beach Approach, and give your dog a proper break in the middle. If your dog is enjoying the crowd, stay longer. If the beach sounds better, listen to the dog.
Sunday morning, I like the idea of choosing one final Dog-O-Rama event before heading back to your Beachhousewa home. You still have the beach nearby, and a quiet last walk is a pretty good way to finish a weekend built around your dog.
For more ideas away from the festival grounds, my Traveler’s Guide to Long Beach gives you a broader look at the peninsula.
Make a Weekend of It
Dog-O-Rama is a good excuse to spend a September weekend in Long Beach, but some of the best time with your dog may happen away from the event. Leave room for the beach, a walk through the dunes, and a little time to simply enjoy being on the coast together.
Every Beachhousewa home is dog friendly, with dog beds, dishes, towels, and a place to rinse off sandy paws after the beach. Beach Cabin, Lewis, Clark, Seagrass, and Ocean Trail each offer something a little different, from cozy cabins for smaller groups to larger homes with plenty of room for everyone.
Choose the home that fits your group, bring the dog, and make a Long Beach weekend out of it.
Come stay with us at Beachhousewa for Dog-O-Rama weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog-O-Rama 2026
When is Dog-O-Rama 2026 in Long Beach?
Dog-O-Rama is currently scheduled for September 18 through 20, 2026. Friday begins in Ilwaco, with the main Saturday and Sunday programming centered around Long Beach. Check the official schedule before your trip because event details can change.
Can I attend Dog-O-Rama without entering my dog in a competition?
Yes. The organizer describes the event as something people can watch for free or join through registered activities. Several scheduled activities, including the Pup Parade, Meet the Breeds, concerts, and Fido FitDog Walk, are currently listed as free.
Does my dog need competition experience?
No. The 2026 schedule includes try-it rally and agility courses designed to let everyday dogs sample the activities in a lower-pressure setting. There are also dog games, tricks, and costume events alongside the more serious competitions.
Where can I stay with my dog during Dog-O-Rama?
All five Beachhousewa homes are dog friendly, so you can choose the property that best fits your group. Clark, Lewis, Seagrass, Ocean Trail, and Beach Cabin all provide dog beds, dog dishes, and dog towels, along with outdoor washing options to make sandy paws easier to handle after a day at the beach. Beach Cabin has an outdoor shower and foot wash, Clark and Lewis have handheld warm-water cleaning stations, Seagrass has a heated hose bib, and Ocean Trail has a double outdoor shower.
