There are dog-friendly events and then there are events built entirely around dogs. ProDog Beach Fest sits firmly in the second category. Taking place on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare on 15 and 16 August 2026, it is two days of activities, talks, taster sessions, and good food. All of it designed around what dogs actually need rather than what looks good on a poster.
It is also ProDog's tenth birthday. Which means the party is going to be a big one.
Where and when
Beach Lawns, Beach Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1AT
Saturday 15 August and Sunday 16 August 2026, 9am to 5pm both days.
Weston is about an hour from Bristol, making it a very doable day trip. Get there early. Parking around the seafront fills up quickly on a summer weekend and the event itself has a capacity limit to keep it manageable for dogs and owners alike.
What's on
This is not a sit-and-watch event. The whole point is to get your dog doing things.
Have a go activities
Taster sessions run across both days and are open to all. No experience needed for any of them.
Canicross and fun run: take on the Weston seafront with your dog alongside you. Route options of 1km, 3km, and 5km mean this works for everyone from serious runners to people who want a gentle plod with a good cause attached. Raise £50 in sponsorship and you get a limited-edition festival running tee. The canicross element starts at 8am on both days, ahead of the main festival gates opening, so registration from 7am with a mandatory safety briefing at 7:45am.
Dog and owner assault course: navigate obstacles together and find out how well you actually communicate when something is in the way. Chaotic and genuinely fun in equal measure.
Agility: tunnels, jumps, weave poles. Qualified handlers run the sessions and there are live demonstrations throughout the day from experienced teams if you would rather watch before you try.
Flyball: fast, high-energy, and hard not to love. Dogs race over hurdles to trigger a ball release and sprint back. The Bristol Ballistics Flyball Team are delivering this one, so the demonstrations are worth watching even if you decide not to have a go.
Dock diving: dogs launch off a platform into water. It is exactly as brilliant as it sounds. Guided sessions available for first-timers, and the demonstration jumps tend to bring the crowd to its feet.
Scent detection: taps into one of the most powerful things a dog has. Sessions are run by Scent Quest and give your dog a focused, rewarding challenge that most owners are surprised to see how much their dog takes to.
Gun dog scurry: the bale run and retrieve scurry, guided by experienced handlers. Open to all breeds, including those who have never picked up a dummy in their lives. Worth trying if you are curious about what your dog might actually be capable of.
Competition zone: a fetch knockout tournament and fastest recall running throughout the day. Friendly competition, no pressure.
Learn and discover
Dr Nick Thompson delivers eight live presentations across the weekend covering canine nutrition, raw feeding, titre testing, and preventative health. He is ProDog's consultant vet and founding president of the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society, so the talks carry proper weight rather than being promotional filler.
ProDog Wellness Zone covers body condition scoring, behavioural consultations, canine first aid demonstrations, muscular health checks from qualified canine massage therapists, and a grooming demonstration. The kind of practical knowledge that is actually useful to take home.
For puppies
There is a dedicated Puppy Zone run in collaboration with Maddie's Pawfect Pooches. A safe, carefully managed space for younger dogs with gentle enrichment activities and guidance on early development and socialisation. If you have a puppy who needs positive experiences in busy environments, this is worth knowing about.
Food, retail, and downtime
Food vendors are on site across both days including dog-friendly options, and a curated retail village with independent dog-focused brands. The Hydration and Cool Zone has shaded areas, cooling mats, and fresh water stations throughout the event.
There is also a Kids Zone if you are bringing children. Bouncy castle, face painting, and a supervised space so younger visitors are actually entertained rather than dragging you away from the dock diving.
The charity angle
All proceeds from activity add-ons and optional donations go to two charity partners: the RSPCA North Somerset Branch and Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, which has been rescuing and rehoming dogs in the South West since 1992. If you cannot make it to the event, donations are open at prodograw.enthuse.com.
A few things worth knowing before you go
Reactive dogs: reactive dogs are welcome at the general festival with responsible management, though activity participation is at ProDog's discretion. It is going to be a busy environment, so if your dog struggles with crowds and other dogs in close proximity, think carefully about whether the full festival is the right setting or whether arriving at a quieter time of day would work better.
Female dogs in season: please do not bring a female in season. Contact ProDog directly if your dog comes into season close to the date.
Brachycephalic breeds: French Bulldogs, Pugs, and similar breeds are not permitted in the fun run due to overheating risk. All other activities are open subject to the welfare guidelines.
Leads: dogs must be on leads in all shared festival areas. No retractable or extendable leads. Fixed lead of no more than 2 metres. Off-lead areas are clearly marked.
Vaccinations: all attending dogs must be vaccinated against core diseases or hold a titre test confirming equivalent immunity.
Tickets
- Day pass: £10 per adult
- Weekend pass: £20 per adult
- Under 16s go free with a paying adult
Activity add-ons are bookable separately after ticket purchase and include a small donation (£2 to £5) to the charity partners. Pre-booking is strongly recommended as spaces are limited.
Tickets at prodograw.com/beachfest.
Getting there from Bristol
Weston-super-Mare is around an hour from Bristol by car via the M5. The festival site is on Beach Road, BS23 1AT. Car parks within walking distance include Beach Royal Sands, Clifton Sands Beach Car Park, and Marine Parade Parking. Arrive early on Saturday especially. The first morning of a summer weekend event fills up fast.
Weston is also accessible by train from Bristol Temple Meads with a direct service that takes around 45 minutes. The seafront is a short walk from Weston station.
