The National Dog Show that NBC airs on Thanksgiving takes place 12 days earlier, on Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. Visitors can watch the judging in person or come Sunday, Nov. 15, for a separate show run by the same kennel club. Tickets cost $20 for ages 12 and up and $10 for ages 4 to 11. Children 3 and under get in free.
Choosing between Saturday and Sunday
The official schedule puts breed judging at 8 a.m. both days, across Halls A, B and D. On Saturday, the televised National Dog Show’s group judging starts at 1 p.m. in Hall C. Best in Show is listed for 6 p.m., although the organizer says it can start later. NBC’s Thanksgiving special is taped from Saturday’s competition.
On Sunday, the Kennel Club of Philadelphia runs a separate competition. Its group judging starts at 1:45 p.m. in Hall C. The organizer’s main page and its detailed program give different estimates for the Sunday Best in Show, so allow time late in the afternoon if that is what you want to see. The schedule also lists several performances by the Purina Incredible Dog Team, starting at 9:30 a.m. Sunday in Hall B. Those exhibitions are separate from breed judging.
The two-day format gives families different ways to plan the visit. Go early to see the breed rings or use the organizer’s Saturday and Sunday ring programs to find a particular breed. If you want to see the televised show’s finale, pick Saturday and allow for a late finish. Seating for group judging is first come, first served, according to the organizer. Saturday’s published order starts with terriers and hounds and ends with the working and herding groups before the final. The order can change, and individual group start times are not listed in the main schedule.
Buying tickets and getting into the expo center
The show’s authorized ticket page sells separate tickets for Saturday and Sunday. The organizer says it will also sell tickets at the door both days and at Philadelphia Visitor Center locations, including Independence Visitor Center and Reading Terminal Market. Tickets from third-party resale platforms will be refused at the door.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center is at 100 Station Ave. in Oaks. The organizer lists general hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, with the Saturday finale likely to run past the posted time. The organizer says spectators should leave pet dogs and strollers at home.
How the judging works
The National Dog Show is a benched show. Entered dogs have assigned areas at the expo center, so visitors can see different breeds between trips to the judging rings. The organizer expects up to 2,000 dogs. A visit to the benching area lets you see dogs that may never appear in the televised final.
In conformation judging, the American Kennel Club says a judge evaluates each dog against the standard for its breed. Dogs chosen as Best of Breed advance to one of seven groups. The seven group winners then compete for Best in Show. NBC Sports’ video of last year’s final shows the last round, after the seven group winners have been selected.
When to watch on Thanksgiving
The organizer says NBC will air Saturday’s show on Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 26, from noon to 2 p.m., following the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Philadelphia competition takes place on local Eastern time. If you are watching from another time zone, check your local NBC listing for the telecast time. The Thanksgiving broadcast is the Saturday show, so Sunday’s separate judging is for the crowd in Oaks.
.jpg)
,_Cisco_San_Jose_Main_Campus.jpg)
