Thousands of golden retrievers prepare to head to Golden Saturday

One of the biggest weekends for the city “Where the West Lives” is set for Saturday.

The annual tradition, dubbed “Goldens in Golden,” celebrates golden retrievers and aims to create community among their owners by calling them to downtown Golden. The event will last two hours, running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The reason behind the inception of the event was twofold: according to Visit Golden’s website, Goldens in Golden was created to “encourage more visitation in the slower winter months” and to celebrate National Golden Retriever Day, which is February 3.

The annual celebration, where the breed and owners gather under the city’s ‘Welcome to Golden’ arch, first kicked off in 2019. According to Visit Golden, it has since drawn thousands of dogs and owners from across the state and country to the Denver suburb each year, with many of the city’s hotels getting reservations a year in advance.

Washington Avenue, located in downtown Golden, will be closed to car traffic from 10th to 13th Streets from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Activities at the event include:

• The Pet Vendor Village at Parfet Park, open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Official group photos at 11:30 a.m., 12 and 12:30 p.m. under the arch at Washington Avenue and 12th Street
• A walk for leashed goldens with many photo opportunities and merchants along the way
• Golden retriever-themed art and merch at Foothills Art Center Astor House’s event
• Goldens in Golden merch, made by YoColorado
• A pre and post-party, hosted by Golden Mill

Free parking:

• Clear Creek Lot: 10th and Archer Streets
• Colorado School of Mines Lot K: 11th and Maple Streets

Paid parking:

• Jackson Street North Public Garage: Jackson Street, between 11th and 12th Streets
• Jackson Street South Public Garage: Jackson Street, between 12th and 13th Streets
• Most of downtown and 10th Street corridor is paid parking
• Colorado School of Mines Garage at McNeil Hall

The event’s webpage warns that only “leashed, trained, and friendly dogs are allowed.” Attendees are advised to bring a water bowl, leash and dog waste bags. Although the event is weather-dependent, the conditions – a high of 40 degrees, a low of 26 and partly cloudy skies – will likely allow for the day to run as planned.

Find additional happenings during Goldens in Golden here.

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