First-ever Petchella brings music, community and wagging tails to West Lawrence

Emma Coffey | @em_coffey

It was a weekend filled with waggings tails and smiling faces as Lawrence celebrated its first-ever Petchella, a free, boho-themed festival dedicated to pets and their people.

Hosted by the Lawrence Humane Society, Rick’s Place and The Revival Room, the festival took over Illinois Street on Sunday, Oct. 5, drawing pet lovers from all over the community. What day was it 

“It was really important to connect with the community and the neighborhood,” Rick’s Place Marketing Director Emily Taylor said. “And so for us, doing an event with dogs, as well as the Lawrence Humane Society was really kind of a no-brainer.”

The event featured live music from local musician Tyler Gregory, homemade treats for pets and their owners and pop-up vendors celebrating all things animal.

“When you can support a local shelter like the Humane Society, that’s always great.” Carolyn O’Malley said, a vendor from Lucky Dog Pet Grocery & Bakery at the event. “Plus, dog-friendly events are perfect for Lawrence. Everybody likes a dog-friendly event.”

Petchella helped to raise awareness for pets available for adoption and to promote local animal resources from organizations like the Kansas State Animal Response Team. 

“It was for a good cause. You know, Lawrence Humane’s always a good thing to be donating and be involved in,” O’Malley said.

With its laid-back vibe and plenty of four-legged fun, Petchella 2025 brought Lawrence’s pet community together for a day of music, fun and wagging tails. 

Organizers say that they hope to make Petchella a tradition in Lawrence, giving residents and their pets another reason to get out and play.