Doggie Pageant Returns to Cape May This Weekend

Cape May is going to the dogs this weekend, but in the best way possible.

The Rusty Nail at the Beach Shack is bringing back its annual Doggie Pageant on Saturday, September 19, giving some of the area’s most talented and stylish pups a chance to compete for the title of top dog.

The event will run from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Rusty Nail, located at 205 Beach Avenue in Cape May.

This year’s competition starts before the dogs even arrive at the Rusty Nail. Pups receiving the most public votes through the pageant’s social media contest will advance to the main event, where they’ll compete in three categories: Best Style, Top Trick and Musical Chairs.

And yes, there will even be some real pageant royalty there to help crown the winner.

Reigning Miss New Jersey Kylie Gene Wright, fresh off the Miss America stage, will be joining the festivities and will have the honor of crowning this year’s four-legged champion.

Only one pup will ultimately walk away with the grand prize, which includes a $250 Rusty Nail gift card along with a doggie gift basket filled with goodies.

While the competition should make for a fun afternoon in Cape May, the event has a much bigger purpose.

Proceeds from the Doggie Pageant will benefit Animal Outreach of Cape May County, a local nonprofit organization that works to help vulnerable animals throughout the area.

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Animal Outreach will also have a table set up during the event where visitors can learn more about its work, make donations and get information about local adoption and spay/neuter programs.

The annual pageant is hosted by the Rusty Nail and Beach Shack in partnership with Animal Outreach of Cape May County, Tito’s Vodka and Collar & Bone.

For those who don’t have a dog competing, there will still be plenty of reasons to stop by. The Rusty Nail will be offering food and beverage specials throughout the afternoon, and the pageant itself is open to anyone looking to watch the competition and support a local animal charity.

The Rusty Nail’s Doggie Pageant has become one of those uniquely Cape May events that combines a little friendly competition with a good cause, and this year’s event will bring plenty of wagging tails to Beach Avenue.

The 2026 Rusty Nail Doggie Pageant takes place Saturday, September 19, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Rusty Nail at the Beach Shack, 205 Beach Avenue in Cape May.

Between the costumes, tricks, musical chairs and the crowning of Cape May’s newest canine champion, it should be a pretty entertaining way to spend a Saturday afternoon at the shore.

And more importantly, every tail wag helps support animals in need right here in Cape May County.