Pensacola, Fla. (September 25, 2025) – The lovable giants of Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue (NWFLGDR) are back for the 9th Annual Danetoberfest, and this year’s theme says it all: “Go Big or Go Home!”

Mark your calendars for Saturday, Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seville Square in downtown Pensacola for a day of fun, fundraising, and lots of Great Danes!

Expect nose boops, surprise slobber bombs, and the chance to meet around 20 adoptable Great Danes and dozens of alumni Danes as we once again aim to raise $15,000 to support the gentle giants in our care.

What’s Danetoberfest All About?

Danetoberfest isn’t just our biggest adoption event of the year—it’s also our largest fundraiser. Every dollar raised goes directly toward veterinary care, medical supplies, food, and other essentials for the Great Danes in our rescue.

“Every Great Dane that comes through our doors has a story, and most of the danes in our care have faced neglect, abandonment, injury or uncertainty,” said Katie King, vice president of NWFLGDR. “Danetoberfest is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a lifeline. It allows us to rescue these amazing dogs, care for them, and help them find the loving homes they truly deserve.”

Fun for Everyone

This year’s celebration is packed with nearly two dozen vendors offering arts, crafts, dog gear, and tasty treats for both humans and pups. Feeling hungry? Paws your way over to the Dortch Eatery food truck for sandwiches, spicy hot wings, juicy burgers, and classic po’ boys—you’ll be drooling as much as the Danes!

And don’t miss our fantastic raffle, featuring nearly 100 $1 raffle baskets and almost a dozen high-value prizes with $5 tickets, including:

• 24×48” acrylic-on-canvas painting of three Great Danes by local artist Rick Russell
• Custom 18×24” dog portrait painting commissioned from Rick Russell
• Two-night stay at Holiday Inn Resort Hotel on Pensacola Beach
• Two-night stay at any Innisfree Hotel
• 4 Universal Studios Orlando single-day passes
• 7-foot Great Dane Skeleton with animated LED eyes
• Customized steel Great Dane welcome sign by Daniel Kenny
• 2-Person hammock with metal stand
• Big Barker Original Giant Dog Bed in gray sleek style – 60x48x7”

Raffle tickets for the high-dollar prizes are $5 each or 6 for $20, while the nearly 100 $1 raffle baskets are packed with goodies like custom artwork, large dog-themed gift baskets, and more. There’s something for everyone—and every ticket helps support the gentle giants in our care!

“Danetoberfest is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of our amazing community coming together to help these gentle giants,” said Michelle Cramer, President of NWFLGDR. “Every ticket, every hug, and every wagging tail brings us one step closer to finding forever homes for these incredible dogs.”

 

Dog-Friendly Fun

Well-behaved, vaccinated dogs are welcome, too! Please, no retractable leashes for everyone’s safety.

 

About Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue

Founded in Pensacola, Fla., in 2010, Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving a large region spanning Florida, southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Every Great Dane is vaccinated, microchipped, spayed or neutered, and heartworm tested before adoption.

For more information about Danetoberfest or NWFLGDR, message us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NWFLGDR or email NWFLGDR@gmail.com.