Petpalooza – Auburn’s Mardi Gras for beloved pets – invades Game Farm Park on Saturday.

The free event, designed for Fido, family and other critters, is a fun-filled festival of vendors, entertainment and other activities. Petpalooza – spread over the spacious park at 3030 R St. SE – features an animal-related entertainment stage, Skyhoundz Disc Dog Championships, a petting area and pony rides, the ‘Unleashed’ pet contests, agility areas, a noon pet parade, more than 150 vendor booths, giveaways and many activities to keep humans and pets entertained.

The fourth annual pet festival is expected to attract between 12,000 and 15,000 folks. Event organizers have extended Petpalooza to three hours, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s quite cool. It’s a fun event to work on,” said Kristy Pachciarz, Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation special events coordinator and the person primarily responsible for bringing the idea here. “It’s just interesting, just from the questions we get. It’s just a fun event.”

The growth of the free festival can be tied to the numbers alone. The inaugural event drew about 60 vendors and 5,000 people. Those numbers have increased incrementally each spring.

It all kicks off with a Dog Trot 3K/5K Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. The family-oriented fun run follows a flat and easy course, enjoyable for all ages. Water will be available on the course for both dogs and human participants.

Race-day registration is $20.

Petpalooza’s full day of entertainment includes demonstrations, dog tricks, Roving Reptiles, Auburn’s Parrot Lady and Valentine’s Performing Pigs.

For driving directions, a festival map, entertainment schedule and other information, visit www.auburnwa.gov or call 253-931-3043.