Peace, love and... pets? Sacramento's SPCA will be holding a dog festival with music this Saturday raising funds for animals sheltered at the SPCA.

Dog lovers and their dogs will converge in William Land Park on the corner of Sutterville Road and Freeport Boulevard for Sacramento SPCA's 16th annual Doggy Dash and Bark in the Park. "Doggy Dash" refers to events beginning at 9 a.m. for registrants who sign up for a 5K run and walk, or a 2K walk, while the "Bark in the Park" is a free event with dog contests, music and food.

In addition to the dog events, there will be a kid zone where parents can pay a few bucks to have their kids play in a bounce house and use a rock-climbing wall, receive airbrush tattoos and make arts and crafts. There will also be a yoga session before the doggy dashes in the morning, which will help participants "bond with dogs" before the event, says Lesley Kirrene, public relations director of the Sacramento SPCA.

"The dash itself is a lot of fun," said Kirrene, who expects 3,000 people to participate in the 2 and 5K dashes, with the Bark in the Park event expected to draw several thousand more spectators.

The Indestructibles, who were voted a top-five Sacramento band by KCRA 3 two years in a row, will be playing at 11:30 a.m. Among other fun-to-watch dog competitions are a kissing competition, a fetching competition and an agility demonstration.

"The look-alike contest is disturbing," said Elisa Hough, who has attended a past Doggy Dash, and is also a copy editor for Sacramento Press. In this contest, the top prize goes to the dog owner who most looks like his or her dog.

"It's a great opportunity to get out on a sunny day with other dog lovers and explore William Land Park," Kirrene said. "It's a great exercise, we have food, and we have lots of fun things to participate in and watch."

"With the river and bike trail, and the new off-leash dog parks, yes, it definitely is," replied Kirrene when asked if Sacramento was a dog-friendly city.

Here is the schedule from the event's website:

7:30 a.m. Run/Walk Registration Begins
8 a.m. Doggy Yoga Session - Arena 1
8:30 a.m. Haute Dogs Agility Group Demonstration - Arena 3
9 a.m. 5 Kilometer Run starts - Start/Finish Line
9:10 a.m. 5 Kilometer Walk starts - Start/Finish Line
9:15 a.m. 2 Kilometer Walk starts - Start/Finish Line
10 a.m. Haute Dogs Agility Group Demonstration - Arena 3
10:15 a.m. Pup Show - Most Enthusiastic Wag - Arena 2
10:30 a.m. Sacramento Police Department K9 Demonstration - Arena 1
10:40 a.m. Pup Show - Best Smile - Arena 2
10:45 a.m. Music Matt - KidZone
10:50 a.m. Pup Show - Best Kisser - Arena 2
11 a.m. Pup Show - Best Tricks - Arena 2
11 a.m. Disc Dogs of the Golden Gate Demonstration - Arena 1
11:10 a.m. Pup Show - Look-a-Like Contest - Arena 2
11:20 a.m. Pup Show - Costume Contest - Arena 2
11:30 a.m. Disc Toss and Fetch Contest - Arena 1
11:30 a.m. The Ulti-mutt Mutt Contest - Arena 2
11:30 a.m. Concert - The Indestructibles - Village Green Stage
11:40 a.m. Pug Races - Heat 1 - Arena 2
11:50 a.m. Pug Races - Heat 2 - Arena 2
Noon Pug Races - Heat 3 - Arena 2
12:10 p.m. Pug Races - Heat 4 - Arena 2
12:20 p.m. Pug Race Off - Arena 2

*Images courtesy Sacramento SPCA