The Stratford Animal Rescue Society welcomes you to its 12^th Annual Fall Festival to Benefit Animals, from 11am to 5pm, October 8, at Paradise Green Park in Stratford.

The family-friendly event will include food trucks, contests, canine demonstrations, games, music, local celebrities, entertainment, pet adoptions, a low-cost microchip clinic, a silent auction, and over 100 crafters and vendors for people and pets. 

The Pet Parade, a one-mile dog walk, will include about a hundred dogs walking down Main Street. Check-in is from 11am to 12:30pm with the parade starting at 1pm. This time is subject to change so check on the days before the event. All dogs must be friendly, leashed and vaccinated. Dog walk participants must bring proof of up-to-date rabies vaccination and license to register. No more than two friendly dogs per person. Join in the walk only if you and your dog can comfortably go the distance of one mile. Be prepared to pick up after your dog. Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to walk. No retractable leashes are allowed. Use a six-foot or shorter non-retractable leash. Registration is $20 for up to two dogs. 

Pam Landry, currently an on-air personality with WXPK-FM’s The Peak, will on hand as mistress of ceremonies. Pets from Stratford Animal Control will be available for viewing on a mobile adoption unit provided by the North Shore Animal League. Lauren Collier is back at STARS this year. Rainforest Reptile will join with a presentation of Reptiles Rock. This includes 10 to 14 smaller animals—such as bugs, frogs, snakes and lizards—to look at. A fun, informative presentation by the herpetologist will focus on four larger animals: a red or yellow foot tortoise, a monitor or tegu lizard, a nearly 10-foot boa or python, and an American alligator.

All proceeds help to sustain the society’s mission of helping animals throughout the year.

For registration, visit StarsFest.org/Vendors.html for vendors, StarsFest.org/Sponsors.html for sponsors, and StarsFest.org/Dog-Walk.html for the Pet Parade. For more information, visit StarsFest.org. Location: Paradise Green, Stratford.