Low and Behold: Corgi Fest Returns for Seventh Year to Frontier Park

CorgiFest

Get ready to go gaga – as Frontier Park is filled with scads of those short masterpieces, Corgis, for the return of Corgi Fest. This year, ironically, is bigger and better than before and with your support, the event will continue to grow each year.

SUNDAY, AUG. 9

You know them, you love them: corgis are one of the most instantly recognizable and universally adored dog breeds and now you have a reason to celebrate them at the seventh annual Corgi Fest. For one day only, Frontier Park will be taken over by these beloved short kings (and queens) as the breed is celebrated by those who know and love them best.

Erie's Corgi Fest was organized from grass roots seven years ago by Jade Mitchell (40 Under 40 Class of 2022), who shares her home with the two corgis (Fynn and Eevee) who helped inspire her to build a community around the breed. "Corgis are intelligent, stubborn, fearless working dogs," Mitchell says. "I often tell people that corgis are basically German Shepherds with short legs; they're capable of so much more than people realize."

The festival serves to adore and celebrate the special dogs, but also to educate, entertain, and build community. This year, a feature of the festival will be a Rainbow Bridge mural, created to remember those companions who have passed since the event began. There will also be a veterinarian on site, Dr. Jenny Grimshawe, who works with Erie Puppy Mill Awareness, helping to educate the public about responsible breeding practices and animal welfare. Attendees can also expect relevant vendors, artists, makers, and small businesses, along with corgi races, costume contests, games, prizes, photo opportunities, and a corgi ball pit (yes, you read that right). New for this year is a special senior corgi race – an inclusive, scaled-back physical challenge for the silver canine crowd.

Erie Corgi Festival has welcomed hundreds of dogs and thousands of attendees over its lifetime, drawing visitors from across Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, and beyond – and this is all accomplished without access to grant funding. Mitchell credits the event's continued success to a dedicated group of volunteers. "The volunteers have been incredible," she shares. "Some have been with me since the beginning, and I couldn't do this without them."

Overall though, "It's about more than corgis," Mitchell says. "It's about community, creativity, connection, and celebrating the dogs that make our lives better."

Noon to 4 p.m. // Frontier Park, 1501 W. 6th St. // $25 (children under 12 and corgis are free) // For tickets and info: thecorgifest.com