Pet Owners Get Party Trained at Wednesday's Block Party

While you’re at the Menlo Park Block Party tomorrow, stop by the Patch table.

We’re going to be there with a video camera, looking for the dogs with the most awesome moves. Can your dog salsa dance? Or play patty cake with you? We want to see. Whatever skill your dog possesses, bring him or her to the Patch table so we can capture it on film. And enter that video into a contest.

We’ll be putting videos of Menlo Park's precocious pooches on Patch during the event, so you can vote on them. Tell us who should win by leaving comments in the box underneath the video player!

We’ll decide who wins on Friday. The winner gets to enjoy hugs from a clean doggie after they’ve cashed in their prize—a gift certificate for a free dog bath from the !

Your dog doesn’t do tricks, you say? They can still have a chance to win a gift certificate for a free dog bath.

We’ll also be taking photos of the dogs who are in the Bark Parade to find the cutest costume.  You'll find those photos on this site right after the Bark Parade finishes. Comment on them and tell us who should win. Whichever dog gets the most comments in their favor wins a bath!

To put your dog in the parade, you need to register them for the event.  There will be a table set up at the corner of Crane and Santa Cruz Avenue where you can do that. The registration process consists of filling out a short form and making a donation. Organizers suggest that you donate $5, preferably in U.S. currency. They won't have debit card machines at the table;  proceeds will go toward animal rescue initiatives. At the end of the event, your dog will get a Certificate of Participation, which is their ticket to a free examination from the .

What’s the Block Party?

Each summer for the past five years, has hosted a block party on Santa Cruz Avenue. Traffic is barred from traveling downtown to allow Menlo Park to transform into a scene very similar to one that can be found on Las Ramblas in Barcelona, Spain for a night. Hundreds of people will bring their families downtown to enjoy a leisurely stroll down Santa Cruz Avenue and mingle.  Local business owners will have tables set up on the street, so people can get to know each other.

Families and friends are often drawn to Fremont Park to partake in the first musical performance of the Summer Concert Series season of the year. That event is bring your own blanket and picnic basket.  Snacks and meals can be also purchased downtown.

The and will be handing out doggie treats and collecting donations to foster pets. Unleashed by PETCO will give bandannas to the Bark Parade participants.  

What: The Menlo Park Block Party, aka first full-blown party of the summer

Where: On Santa Cruz Avenue from Fremont Park to Stacks

When:  5:30 p.m. - ? Wednesday, June 22, 2011

5 Things To Do While You're There:

1) Stop at the Patch Booth to immortalize your dog’s skills on video.
2) Enter your dog in the Bark Parade.  It starts at 6:30 p.m. 
3) Dance in Fremont Park to live music.
4) Nosh at that downtown restaurant you've been meaning to try.
5) Get to know your neighbors