A longstanding community dog show says it will stand firm after learning a new commercial dog event is being held nearby on the same weekend.
Bark in the Park has been raising money for Queens Park for many years, with hundreds of dogs and their owners attending every summer. This year it is taking place on Saturday, 6 June.
But this year, DogFest on the Beach is holding its first event in East Brighton Park, less than two miles away – hosted by TV presenter Rylan.
Bark in the Park is organised by the Friends of Queens Park. Chair Geoffrey Bowden said: “We have talking about the event in public and on our website for a couple of months now – it’s in the diary.
“All the funds we raise are ploughed back into the park to supplement the diminishing coffers of the council. We are buying plants and tools and using money to support park users.
“I don’t see anything going back to East Brighton Park from this event.
“We have started publicising it already and we will continue to publicise it emphasising it’s not a commercial event.
“People can make their choice. Whether they want to pay for the first class travel, hotel and expenses for TV star Rylan in this cost of living crisis, or if they wish to join with the local people in Brighton and Hove who want to enjoy a good day out at very little cost, come to Bark in the Park.
“We are not going to back down. We are so well established and people have been knocking on our doors since last year asking for the dates to plan around it.”
Bark in the Park is free to attend, and it costs £2 to enter a dog in the events, which include cutest puppy, fancy dress and best sausage catcher.
Tickets for Dogfest on the Beach start at £29.50, and includes dog activities and a commemorative photograph. The event also features DJs, drag queens, food stalls and a bar.
A spokesperson for Dogfest said: “We’re keen to make our support for Bark in the Park clear and would encourage dog owners to attend and enjoy both events.
“For transparency, we became aware of Bark in the Park earlier this year, after our plans were submitted to and provisionally granted by the council in 2025.
“Since then, we have been trying to facilitate a collaborative conversation with the organisers and are actively planning to support both events.
“While both events appeal to dog owners, we believe they are different enough to complement one another. We welcome any initiative that brings the Brighton community together and, with more than 30,000 dogs across the city, there is a clear opportunity to make the 6 and 7 June a memorable weekend for local dog owners.
“We also host a variety of charities at each of our events and have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for organisations across the UK since the inception of Dogfest over the last decade.
“We look forward to receiving a response from Bark in the Park so we can work together to ensure both events are a huge success for the region.”
The council’s cabinet member for culture Birgit Miller said: “Brighton and Hove is a dog-loving city and we’re confident there is more than enough interest to sustain two events – particularly as our understanding is they are aimed at different audiences.
“The event in East Brighton Park is a commercial event and will be paying full fees for the use of one of our locations.”
