Dogs come out in droves for annual Ides of Bark celebration

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Sunny, seasonable weather brought hundreds of area dogs and their owners to Grist Mill Park on Sunday for the third Ides of Bark festival. 

While their humans enjoyed music, food truck specialties, raffled gifts and demonstrations by the Fairfax County Police K9 Unit, the pampered pooches received free treats, bandanas, swag bags and certificates for discounted grooming services. They also played games, frolicked leashlessly in the dog park and generated lots of friendly curiosity and attention from other canine visitors.

The event, which started in 2015, is sponsored by Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck, the Fairfax County Park Foundation and the Fairfax County Park Authority.

Storck called this year’s edition a big success.

“This is the best Ides of Bark we’ve ever had,” said Storck. “Between the perfect weather, crowds and great police and park authority presence, we’ve created an event that’s memorable for everyone.”