LOWELL — An unused parking lot in the heart of downtown Lowell came alive this past Halloween, as hundreds of people and their four-legged companions gathered for the second annual Lowell PupFest, organized by local nonprofit Project Merrimack.
Held Saturday, October 31, at 40 Market Street, the free festival transformed the space into a lively gathering place featuring local businesses, animal-focused organizations, activities, a photo booth, and a crowd-favorite dog costume contest.
The event attracted residents from Lowell and visitors from surrounding communities for an afternoon of celebration downtown.
“I walk through this lot everyday with my dog and always think about what a great community space it could be,” said Ken Michienzi, founder and executive director of Project Merrimack. “We saw PupFest as a chance to demonstrate that potential. It’s right in the heart of downtown, surrounded by businesses, residents, and is the perfect place to bring visitors. Seeing hundreds of people enjoying the space was exciting, and we hope it encourages others to imagine what else could happen here.”
Bringing people and places together
With limited dedicated gathering spaces for dogs and their owners in downtown Lowell, PupFest offered a welcome opportunity to socialize. Local retailers, pet businesses, animal welfare organizations, and volunteers joined the festivities, with visitors exploring vendor booths and enjoying the afternoon costume contest.
Beyond the festival itself, organizers hope the event will inspire other creative uses for the lot. Located near downtown businesses and the historic canal system, the space offers opportunities for future programming that could attract visitors, encourage neighborhood exploration, and contribute to downtown economic activity.
Keeping residents informed and engaged
PupFest is part of a broader mission for Project Merrimack, a Lowell-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to keeping residents informed, engaged, and connected to their communities.
The organization operates a free online Community Hub that brings together local news, events, volunteer opportunities, civic updates, environmental information, and community resources, making it easier for residents to discover what’s happening and find ways to participate.
“We believe informed residents are more engaged residents,” Michienzi said. “Our work is about making it easier for people to know what’s happening in their community, discover opportunities to get involved, and turn that information into participation.”
A community effort
PupFest was made possible through the participation of local businesses, community organizations, volunteers, city partners, and lead sponsor Northern Bank.
Organizers hope to build on the event’s success by expanding community partnerships, strengthening the nonprofit’s online resources, and creating additional opportunities for residents to connect with Lowell.
For Project Merrimack, PupFest represents how creative use of existing spaces and collaboration between community partners can strengthen the connections that make downtown Lowell an active and welcoming place.
Learn more about Project Merrimack at projectmerrimack.org.
