Denver Life

Big Golden Retriever Energy Takes Over Golden

Thousands of dogs and their owners gathered for the annual festival.
By Brandon Johnson
People gather in Downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden.
The event was founded in 2019 by Joy Meadows, a Golden local who was inspired by a similar gathering in the Scottish Highlands (the breed’s birthplace).

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)
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The 2026 Goldens in Golden celebration transformed the streets of downtown Golden into a vibrant river of fur and wagging tails, drawing record-breaking crowds for what has become a global pilgrimage for dog lovers.

Held in honor of International Golden Retriever Day, this year’s event solidified its status as a premier community festival, featuring thousands of retrievers participating in a morning of friendly greetings and all the headscratches they could want.

To manage the unprecedented turnout, organizers successfully implemented an expanded schedule that included multiple group photo sessions under the iconic “Howdy Folks” arch and the highly anticipated election of an Honorary Canine Mayor. See more photos from the event below.

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A photo of a dog dressed as a lion during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A dog dressed as a lion during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A dog smiles as it is embraced by its owner.
A dog smiles as it is embraced by its owner.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A woman hugs her dog at the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A woman hugs her dog at the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A photo of a man and a dog during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
Dog owners flocked to Golden for the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

People gather in Downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden.
People gather in downtown Golden for the annual Goldens in Golden.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

People gather in Downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden.
The event was inspired by Joy’s own Golden Retriever, Waffle, who was the original “Golden Girl” of the festival.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A photo of a woman and a dog during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
Dogs and people were all smiles at Goldens in Golden.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A photo of a dog and two people in matching outfits during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A dog and two people in matching outfits during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A photo of a dog during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A dog is embraced by its owner during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A photo of a dog dressed as a lion during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A dog channeling its inner lion.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A family takes a group picture during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A family takes a group picture during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

Dogs gather during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
Dogs gather during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

Women taking a group picture with a golden retriever during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A group of people huddle around a couple of dogs in Golden.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A dog strolls the street during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
A dog strolls the street during the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A dog gets headscratches during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
Headscratches were a common treat for all dogs who attended the annual Goldens in Golden event.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

Women taking a group picture with a golden retriever during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
Group pictures and smiles were a common theme.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A dog resting during the annual Golden's in Golden event.
The event is held every year on the Saturday closest to International Golden Retriever Day (February 3).

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

People gather in Downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden.
While it’s “unofficial,” the event has grown from about 1,000 dogs in its early years to an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 pups in 2026.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

People gather in Downtown Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden.
Due to massive crowds last year, 2026 was the first year the event was extended to four hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m.) and introduced dog-friendly shuttles.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

A child pets a dog at the Golden's in Golden event.
It is widely considered the largest unofficial gathering of Golden Retrievers in the world.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

Golden Retrievers gather together in Golden, Colorado, for the annual Golden's in Golden dog event.
People traveled from as far as Australia and Japan just to walk their dogs down Washington Avenue.

Photography by: Brandon Johnson (@bjohnsonxar)

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Brandon Johnson has been a freelance photographer for Denver Westword since 2018. In his role, Brandon captures and documents local events and concerts across the Denver metro area. His previous photography work includes contributing to Live Nation Colorado, 303 Magazine and Alive Coverage. While attending the University of Arkansas, he discovered his passion for photography through frequent visits to a local music venue and working for the school newspaper. www.bjohnsonxar.com

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