Cuteness, costumes and canines abound at a rainy Barktoberfest

Wet. That’s what best describes the third annual Barktoberfest held Sunday at Durham Central Park. Wet fur, wet grass, wet frisbees, even wet air that held the promise of more rain. When the downpour stopped for a moment, it raised hopes for sunshine and warmth, only to start again not half an hour later. Once the rain ended a second time, the air turned to a sharp cold. Dogs and humans alike shivered in their inadequate coats of fur and clothing.

It truly was an afternoon of odd weather, one not even Wes Hohenstein, chief meteorologist for CBS North Carolina, predicted. Hohenstein was the announcer at the event, taking to the small stage at one end of an L-shaped pavilion every few minutes to make announcements of upcoming contests and performances. He also reminded attendees that the event was a fundraiser for Beyond Fences (formerly the Coalition to Unchain Dogs), an organization dedicated to helping pet owners in underserved neighborhoods by providing services such as driving pets to veterinary appointments, spaying or neutering and building fences so animals can roam freely in their yards.

Whenever a contest started, the entire crowd gathered toward the stage. McKenzie Beaver, a first-year in the MBA program at the Fuqua School of Business, took second prize in the Pet Human Look-a-Like contest. She dressed both herself and her dog, Zoey, in matching Blue Devil gear.

“I do think that Zoey and I look a lot alike in the face,” Beaver said. “One thing that we have in common in particular is we both are constantly smiling.”

Other contests included Best Costume (Pet Only), Best Costume (Pet and Human) and Best Pet Trick. While the event was free, contestants were encouraged to donate $3 to Beyond Fences. These contests also inspired a slew of creative costumes, from punny outfits like the “Great Barrier Ruff,” to ones in tune with the spooky side of Halloween, like a costume inspired by Pennywise and Georgie, characters from the horror movie “It.” Characters from “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” “Pokemon,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Twin Peaks,” among other pop culture icons, also made an appearance, their ensembles reinterpreted for the canine.

Judging all the contests were a group of local “celebrities,” including two state senators, Mike Woodard (D, District 22) and Floyd McKissick, Jr. (D, District 20), as well as a couple reporters who often write about issues related to pets and community members highly involved with Durham’s animal rescue and shelter efforts. Each competition saw the individual contestants providing the dogs’ names and breeds, and performing or showing off their attire. After everyone in the category had their time in the spotlight, the judges convened to determine the first, second and third place awardees, along with many honorable mentions since this year’s contests were popular — there were around 20 entries for the each of the Best Costume contests.

Beyond the stage, a variety of vendors lined the pavilion space. Some booths targeted the dog market while others did not have a direct canine connection. The tables held all sorts of pet paraphernalia, including bow ties, bandanas, leashes and collars, as well as information for services, ranging from veterinary hospitals to pet sitters and dog training facilities. A couple of real estate companies and food vendors also set up spaces at the event for publicity and to support Beyond Fences.

In a grassy area bordered by the pavilion on two sides, the Purina Pro Plan Performance Team (whose name Hohenstein tripped over several times) performed twice, once at noon and again at 2 p.m. The dogs chased down frisbees, jumped many times beyond their standing heights and spun on command. The trainers also gave tips to dog owners about how to train their dogs, demonstrating early training techniques and emphasizing the idea of a “lure,” typically a treat or some kind of toy that the dogs will want to follow.

A new resident of Durham, it was Beaver’s first time attending Barktoberfest, and she emphasized how fun the event was. This was also the first year Beyond Fences collaborated with Durham Parks and Recreation to put on Barktoberfest. Beaver first heard about the event at Northgate Dog Park, and since a couple of her friends in the Fuqua MBA program also owned dogs and wanted to attend, they decided to go. Beaver said she enjoyed learning about the different vendors and feeling like part of a community of fellow dog-lovers.

“It’s great to have so many options and to have a community that supports dogs so much because they’re so important to us as humans,” Beaver said “Dogs give you such a sense of love and loyalty and dedication that you just really can’t get anywhere else.”