🌿 St. Louis Pagan Picnic📅 Date: Saturday, May 31, 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – Open-Ended
📍 Location: Tower Grove Park – St. Louis, MO
🧭 Meetup Point: STL Huggs “Base Camp” — GPS link will be posted in GroupMe the morning of the event.
🔗 Event Website
🗺️ Map & Directions
🦮 Event Overview
Join STL Huggs for a one-of-a-kind training experience at the St. Louis Pagan Picnic, the Midwest’s largest open-air spiritual festival. This vibrant, inclusive event features hundreds of vendor booths, food trucks, live performances, and cultural ceremonies. It offers ideal training opportunities for service dog teams to practice navigating large, high-distraction public gatherings.
🏕️ STL Huggs Base Camp
We’ll be setting up an STL Huggs “Base Camp” before the event opens. This area will serve as a central meetup, resting spot, and secure place to leave your belongings while you explore the event.
✔ A GPS link to the camp will be shared in the GroupMe chat before the event
✔ Base Camp will include an extra-large waterproof tarp, ice water in a large cooler, and space for everyone to relax
✔ Bring blankets, lawn chairs, or mats to make yourself comfortable
✔ This is a very social event, and you’re encouraged to hang out and enjoy the day
✔ Please check in at Base Camp when you arrive and stop back by or send a GroupMe message when you leave
🎯 Training Objectives
Loose-leash walking through large, busy crowds
Ignoring food on the ground and enticing smells
Calm focus around music, drums, incense, and ritual movement
Neutral behavior around people in costume or flowing garments
Holding long-duration stationary positions
Practicing polite greetings while maintaining focus
🎭 Experience Highlights
Observe live religious ceremonies and rituals
Dine at a variety of food trucks and vendors
Enjoy stage performances and cultural entertainment
Explore booths offering handmade goods, books, crafts, and spiritual items
☀️ Helpful Tips
Dress for the weather – sunscreen, hats, and breathable clothing are highly recommended
Wear comfortable shoes – expect a lot of walking and uneven ground
Bring water for both you and your dog (though water will be available at Base Camp)
This is a fun, casual outing – enjoy it at your own pace!
🌧️ Weather Contingency
If Saturday is rained out, we will attempt to reschedule for Sunday, June 1.
👉 Sunday attendance is completely optional and will not affect your training credit if you cannot attend.
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.