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North Gateway
Mark your calendars and grab the leash, because Arch Bark is back on Saturday, April 18, 2026, and it's the most tail-wagging day of the year. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Gateway Arch National Park transforms into St. Louis's ultimate dog-friendly celebration, free for every pup and their person.
Kick off the morning with our community dog walk through one of the country's most iconic national parks, then stick around for Purina Incredible Dog Team performances, a Dog Fashion Show + Best Trick Contest, a tennis ball pit, free caricature drawings, local vendors, food trucks, lawn games, and more.
Eager to join the fun? Pre-register for the community dog walk and skip the line when you arrive at Arch Bark!
Sign up for the Community Dog Walk
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10:00 AM Booths Open & Dog Walk Registration Begins
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Free Caricature Drawings
10:30 AM Dog Walk (Short Route to North Leg, Longer Route to South Leg)
11:15 AM 1st Purina Incredible Dog Team Performance
12:00 PM Dog Fashion Show + Best Trick Contest (most applause wins a three-month supply of Purina Pet Food)
12:30 PM 2nd Purina Incredible Dog Team Performance
1:00 PM Dog Agility Course Opens
Learn more about the day's events below!
Learn more about each activity below. These ongoing pet activities run from 10 AM - 2 PM.
It's your dog's dream come true- a ball pit filled to the brim with tennis balls AND delicious treats!
Commemorate the occasion with caricature drawings provided by Caricature STL.
Purina Booth Giveaways:
Gateway Arch Park Foundation Giveaways:
No paw-ty is complete without music!
Enjoy three hours of today's hits while you and your furry friend explore all that Arch Bark has to offer.
Unleash your excitement with a variety of lawn games, including build-an-arch, cornhole and more!
Capture the moment with your furry friend at Arch Bark! Enjoy free on-site photography from our roaming photographers.
The walk begins at 10:30 a.m. at the main Arch Bark stage.
Please note: Registration is required to join the community dog walk. Registration is free and will be open at the event from 10:00 - 10:30 am. You can also pre-register online at the button below
Both you and your pup can showcase your bond through our Dog Fashion Show + Trick Contest and Dog Agility Course.
Does your pup love to dress up? Do they know any special tricks? Enter your duo into the Fashion Show + Trick Contest!
Thanks to Purina, the team who receives the most applause from the audience wins a three-month supply of Purina Pet Food.
Practice navigating through obstacles like tunnels, weave poles, agility hurdles, and more!
With fan-favorite food trucks returning this year, as well as local vendors and organizations to chat with, you and your pup are sure to make some tail-wagging memories.
Enjoy (human) food and drink options from:
Meet local pet vendors from:
The Purina Incredible Dog Team represents some of the world’s most talented canine athletes. Many of these dogs are former recues, which just goes to show how ANY dog can be incredible with the right nutrition and training.
At Arch Bark, the Purina Incredible Dog Team will demonstrate some amazing, high-flying tricks based on principles in agility and flying disc.
The Purina Incredible Dog Team will perform in the North Gateway at 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Engage with the National Park Service’s B.A.R.K. Ranger program at their booth to find out how you and your dog can get more involved in the parks and learn about the only non-human member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Meriwether Lewis’ dog Seaman.
The National Park Service’s B.A.R.K. Ranger program invites family pets to serve as ambassadors for responsible and safe pet handling at Gateway Arch National Park and other national parks across the country.
Bag your pet’s waste
Always leash your pet
Respect wildlife
Know where you can go
Whether you're a proud pet parent or just a fur-loving friend, our exclusive Arch Bark shirt is a must-have for every dog enthusiast.
This event will not be held under the Gateway Arch. It is at the North Gateway of the park, which borders Laclede's Landing.
Guests may find parking at Laclede's Landing and Downtown metered parking on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Metro is also a great choice to travel to and from the Festival — exit at the Laclede's Landing MetroLink Station, just steps away from the North Gateway.
For guests who visit the Arch, the Stadium East Garage is the preferred Arch visitor parking location, with a discounted rate ($11) for five hours — if pre-purchased at least a day in advance. (After five hours, normal garage rates apply.)
Other nearby garages include Interpark's Kiener East Garage, Kiener West Garage, and Stadium West Garage.
MEMBER PERK: Gateway Arch Park Foundation members at the Supporter level and above receive FREE and discounted parking in the Kiener East Garage. Become a member here. Members make events like Arch Bark possible. Parking instructions are included in membership packets. Please note it takes 2-3 weeks for packets to be processed.
We host Arch Bark as part of our mission to serve the St. Louis community through programs that bring the park and its surrounding areas in Downtown St. Louis to life. By offering safe, affordable, innovative and family-friendly events, we invite St. Louisans and visitors alike to make new memories under the Arch and join us in invigorating the jewel of our City to ensure it remains a destination of choice for generations to come.
Because Arch Bark is free to attend, dog lovers from across our local and regional community can gather in the heart of St. Louis to celebrate with their four-legged friends. Each year, thousands of guests activate the Arch grounds by attending Arch Bark, supporting pet-focused vendors and generating meaningful economic activity in the city.
You can support events like Arch Bark by making a donation or becoming a member. Every contribution, including your donation, goes toward our mission to uplift our hometown national park and the St. Louis region.
