McAllister Park will be filled with dogs and kite-flying Oct. 9 during the 14th annual Fest of Tails Kite Festival and Dog Fair, which will be held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free and family friendly, the San Antonio Parks Foundation typically offers the Fest of Tails every March at McAllister Park, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 event and a postponement of this year’s edition.

The Fest of Tails is held entirely outdoors near the Wurzbach Parkway park entrance between Wetmore Road and Starcrest Drive.

Visitors may bring their own kites or acquire a kite on-site. Kites of all types and sizes can be flown during the festival.

Other activities include a dog parade and costume contest beginning at 12:30 p.m. Contestants must be registered between 10 a.m. and noon.

Early contest registration is available at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf5ir9yOmEDwNfDM2Nx1WZ2ql2lbIL0tKUgN84vvZomaiKvXg/viewform.

Categories include Best Dressed Dog, Most Resembles Owner and Best of Show. Awards will be given for first, second and third place.

There also will be pet adoption opportunities, a tree giveaway, live music, and dozens of vendors offering information on their business or nonprofit as well food, arts and crafts.

Parking is free but limited in the main parking lots near the dog park. Attendees may park farther away but take caution in walking to the festival site, event organizers said.

Visitors may also bring a lawn chair or blanket.

After the festival ends, visitors and their dog may attend an official happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 9 at Hops and Hounds bar, 13838 Jones Maltsberger Park. Admission is free.

Pet-friendly Hops and Hounds is a full bar that provides food and a large outdoor patio as well as gated areas for dogs to roam and play off leash.

The parks foundation is working with Texas Public Radio and Tito’s Handmade Vodka at the so-called “yappy” hour to raise funds to help refurbish McAllister Park’s dog water fountains, which were damaged by freezing temperatures during Winter Storm Uri last February.