KING OF PRUSSIA, PA —This year, the stars and stripes are meeting paws and patriotism as Washington Memorial Chapel’s beloved Blessing of the Animals returns to Valley Forge during America’s 250th anniversary celebration on Sunday, October 4 from 2 PM – 4 PM. During the fifth annual event, the community will come together for an afternoon celebrating animals, faith, history, and the cherished connection between pets and the people who love them.
Held during America’s Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States—the 2026 celebration will add a distinctly patriotic and historical dimension to this adored Chapel tradition. More than 10 vendors, community organizations, and special guests from the National Dog Show and more are expected to participate, creating an afternoon that connects the area’s rich Revolutionary history with a celebration of our four-legged, feathered, and furry friends.
The annual event honors St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and nature, and celebrates the bond between humans and all of God’s creatures. Guests are invited to bring their pets to receive an individual blessing, as well as photos of pets or cremains.
This year’s special guests will include The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s The National Dog Show and a historical actor portraying George Washington, the Father of the American Foxhound, who will meet and greet visitors with his foxhounds. With the event taking place at Washington Memorial Chapel in the heart of Valley Forge, the addition of historical and patriotic programming offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary while recognizing the animals that have been part of America’s story for generations.
The afternoon will begin with a welcome and introduction by Johanna Reck, Vestry Parish Life & Welcome Committee of WMC, followed by Steve Griffith, a representative for The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s The National Dog Show, who will provide information about the National Dog Show and the nationwide broadcast on Thanksgiving Day by NBC, and then a brief service by Father Tommy Thompson. Thompson will also personally bless each animal and present a commemorative certificate of blessing.
“Blessing of the Animals is always a wonderful opportunity to bring our community together, but celebrating it during America’s 250th anniversary makes this year particularly special,” said Thompson. “We’re bringing together faith, history, community and, of course, the animals that bring so much joy to our lives.”
Hundreds of animals have been blessed at previous celebrations, including dogs, cats, horses, birds, tortoises, and lizards.
Blessing of the Animals 2026
Washington Memorial Chapel
2000 Valley Forge Park Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
Time: 2 PM – 4 PM
The following organizations will also attend the event and will disseminate information to guests:
- The Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s The National Dog Show – This is the only “Single-Venue Benched Show” in America. Held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center from November 14-15, visitors can see up to 2,000 of the top American Kennel Club sanctioned dogs from across the country.
- Valley Forge Park Alliance – An independent nonprofit organization that supports Valley Forge National Historical Park by creating programs that facilitate education, volunteering, and exploring the park.
- Valley Forge National Historical Park Rangers – National Park Service rangers at Valley Forge and across the nation are part of a global community of rangers working to ensure the protection and the public’s enjoyment of the world’s natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources. They will be bringing information about their Bark in the Park Program.
- Sisters4Style – Sisters4Style comprises two sisters who started the company in 2012 and have been making one-of-a-kind gifts ever since. Their “All About Dogs” collection is a favorite among shoppers and features a variety of dog breeds artfully designed on makeup and cosmetic bags, bookmarks, glasses cases, ornaments, and more.
- Animal House Project – Animal House Project is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization located in Pottstown, PA that has steadily grown its programs for helping animals in need. Between 2013 and 2025 the organization donated over 5.5 million pounds of pet food to companion and rescue pets and 4 million pounds to disaster related rescues.
- Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) – ALSF understands childhood cancer. They literally have their roots in a 4-year-old’s lemonade stand. Their founder, Alex Scott, sadly passed away from the cancer she was fighting, but not before she raised $1 million for childhood cancer research with lemonade stands she set up to help other kids, too. Today, ALSF has raised nearly $400 million with a commitment to continue changing the lives of kids with cancer, one cup at a time. ALSF has a special connection to Washington Memorial Chapel as Scott is laid to rest in its cemetery.
- Rocco’s Treats – Saint Rocco’s Founders Kaleb and Kolby didn’t set out to build a pet brand. They set out to answer a question that bothered them: why doesn’t anything in this category actually live up to what dogs deserve? They started baking in their kitchen in Bucks County, PA — a 48-hour process when every competitor was doing it in a fraction of the time — because they couldn’t make something they didn’t believe in. The reaction told them they got it right. Not a focus group, not a retail buyer — the dog. That’s still the only metric that matters.
For more information about Washington Memorial Chapel, visit wmchapel.org.
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