Mark Your Calendar: Yorktown’s Paws at the River Returns October 25

If you’re a dog lover—or just love a good fall festival—Paws at the River is your kind of day. This annual event is back at Yorktown’s Riverwalk Landing on Saturday, October 25, 2025, and it’s serving up all the autumn vibes with a big side of wagging tails.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the waterfront transforms into a pet-friendly celebration complete with live music, family fun, and local shopping through Yorktown Market Days. It’s the perfect blend of small-town charm, community spirit, and fall festivities—and your pup is invited.

Here’s what to expect:
🐶 Pet portraits from 9 a.m. to noon behind the Freight Shed—plus an online costume contest where the most liked photo on Visit Yorktown’s Facebook page wins a prize.
🎃 Costume parade at 1 p.m.—because Yorktown’s furry residents know how to strut.
🍬 Trick-or-treating for kids at Historic Yorktown businesses.
🎨 A craft station where kids can decorate a bandana for their dog.
🐾 K9 demonstrations by the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office—always a crowd-pleaser.
🦴 Dog treat demos by Gangsta Dog at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Yorktown Market Days vendors will be set up with fresh produce, baked goods, meats, flowers, and local specialties. Grab a cider, listen to live acoustic music from Phil Poteat, and enjoy the best of fall by the water.

Bonus perks:

• Free to attend
  
  
• The Yorktown Trolley runs from 11 a.m.
  
  
• Parking is easy and nearby
  
  

Military families stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, or Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown—this is a great way to plug into the community. Whether you’ve got a dog in costume or just want to enjoy the season, this event has something for everyone.

Paws at the River is more than just a pet event—it’s a local tradition that brings people (and pets!) together. So leash up your pup, grab your family, and make a day of it.