The Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation Department’s inaugural Petpalooza festival was awarded for excellence in the programming category by the Learning Resources Network.

LERN is an international association in lifelong learning. The winning entry was included in a showcase of internationally exemplary programs at the LERN annual convention in San Francisco on Nov. 16-18.

Mayor Pete Lewis and the City Council honored the Auburn staff on Monday night for their outstanding work in the May 31 event.

The Auburn entry was selected from more than 140 nominations from four countries. Judges indicated that there was a high level of excellence in this year’s field of nominees.

The Petpalooza festival kicked off with a Dog Trot 3K Fun Run/Walk and also featured an animal entertainment stage, Skyhoundz Disc Dog Championships, a pet parade, the “Unleashed” pet contests, a petting zoo and pony rides, more than 65 vendors, inflatable rides, children’s games and food vendors.

More than 6,000 people attended the event at Auburn’s Game Farm Park.

“This year’s award nominees were among the highest quality ever submitted,” said Julie Coates, vice president of information services for LERN. “There were more winners selected this year than in any previous year, due to the excellence in quality of the nominations.”

Coates said the primary criteria judges used for those selected with excellence was the quality of being at the leading edge of the field of lifelong learning.

The winning entry was on display in the conference Hall of Learning throughout the three-day conference. In addition, the winning programs will be featured in future LERN publications and on LERN’s Web site.