Big Dog Show

Coming to the Bradford Common October 24th-27th

WHITTIER BIRTHPLACE TO HOST BIG DOG SHOW

The Whittier Birthplace will host Dale Rogers’  “Big Dog Show” on the Bradford Common over Halloween weekend for a fourth year in a row. 

The Big Dog Show is the signature public art exhibition of Haverhill-based artist, Dale Rogers. Twenty of Dale Rogers’ “American Dogs” will be assembled on the Bradford Common from Friday, October 24th through Monday, October 27, 2025. Event sponsors and their community partners (such as schools and local nonprofits) will have the opportunity to decorate one of the American Dogs for the viewing pleasure of the greater Haverhill community. In addition to decorated Dogs, there will be a number of other activities for the public to enjoy on Saturday, October 25th. These include a pet parade, a chance to vote on the best dressed Big Dog, and more. The Haverhill Farmers Market will also be set up on Bradford Common on Saturday, October 25th. This will be a fun weekend for pet-owners and the community at large!

Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses and organizations interested in decorating a Big Dog or for sponsoring one of the other activities such as the pet pageant. For more information, please email Kaleigh Paré Shaughnessy, Executive Director of the Whittier Birthplace at kaleigh@whittierbirthplace.org

The Whittier Birthplace was organized in April 1893 to preserve the historic landscape, house, and other buildings as nearly as may be, in the same condition as when John Greenleaf Whittier lived on the farmstead and to provide public access to the property so that the legacy of Whittier’s literary and abolition works may be remembered. To learn more about other events or to book a tour, please visit whittierbirthplace.org.

Schedule of Events

More details to come….

10/23 Thursday: Dale Rogers Studio team will install the Big Dogs on the Bradford Common

10/24 Friday: decorating teams can decorate their Dogs anytime during daylight hours

10/25 Saturday: the big event! Community welcome to visit the Big Dogs; Haverhill Farmers Market set up on the Bradford Common from 9am-1pm; Pet Parade at 2pm; Vote for Best Dressed Big Dog 9am-3pm.

10/26 Sunday: Big Dog Show remains open to the public to visit and view

10/27 Monday: decorating teams to take down decorations

10/28 Tuesday: Dale Rogers Studio team to take Dogs back to the studio