Reporter staff

It’s a Mardi Gras for cats, dogs and pets of all descriptions. It’s a celebration played out at a place fittingly named Game Farm Park.

Auburn’s award-winning Petpalooza, a pet lover’s paradise offering a day full of animal-related fun, food, live entertainment and more than 160 vendors returns Saturday.

Petpalooza kicks off with a Dog Trot 3K/5K Fun Run at 9:30 a.m. On-site registration is $25 per person.

The festival officially opens at 10 a.m. and runs through 5 p.m. at the park, 3030 R St. SE.

Animal-related demonstrations and activities include reptile shows, The Parrot Lady, NutriSource Pet Foods’ Community Frisbee Competition, Seattle Flydogs demos, an agility course and pony rides.

The Great American Animal Entertainment Company returns with its premier petting zoo, along with crazy animal racing, Farmyard Follies, and the Ag-Ventureland – with its goat and cow milking stations, corn and bean play boxes, pony saddling, craft stations and more.

Back again are the ArtRageous hands-on art zones featuring four animal-related art activities, pet adoptions and various other pet-related services and sales.

The food court features eight vendors, offering a variety of tastes as well as a new snack area.

You can check out the live entertainment stage, featuring great tunes and popular animal acts. Listen to the popular duo, The Davidson Brothers, and participate in the Pet Pros’ “Unleashed” Pet Contest.

Petpalooza is coordinated by the City of Auburn.

Event sponsors include; Banfield Pet Hospital; the Tractor Supply Co.; NutriSource Pet Foods; Reber Ranch; the Muckleshoot Casino; State Farm; Umpqua Bank; Coastal; The Dermatology Clinic for Animals; and Pet Pros. Media partners include 100.7 The Wolf; Pet Connection Magazine; the Auburn Reporter and CityDog Magazine.

Complete event information, driving directions, parking information and more is available at auburnwa.gov/petpalooza.