It’s the 20,000th anniversary of humans’ domestication of the dog (give or take 5,000 years). Join us for a celebration of that historic event with a parade on October 5, 2024 in Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC. The parade route will start in Picnic Grove #10 and follow a short (about 1-mile) trail loop in the woods. Thank you to New South Associates for their support of this event!

Ways to participate:

Walk! Dog owners can register to walk in the parade with their companion(s). Humans without a dog can also register to walk to show their support for Archaeology in the Community. Costumes for humans and dogs are encouraged! Registered attendees receive a bandana and a chance to win prizes, including a $50 gift card to Big Bad Woof.

Fundraise! Become a peer-to-peer fundraiser. Upload a photo of yourself and/or your dog companion(s) and help us raise funds to support archaeology education.

Sponsor! Donate on behalf of a peer-to-peer fundraising human or pup. Your donation will go to continuing the mission of Archaeology in the Community, increasing our community’s awareness of archaeology and history. Businesses and other organizations can also become sponsors of the event.

Volunteer! Help set up the event space, coordinate participants, and clean up on the day of the event by volunteering your time.

Learn! Discover the history of dog domestication and how zooarchaeologists (archaeologists who study animals) piece together the clues about past pups.