Save the Date: 'Travels With Charley' Dog Walk

Sag Harbor will pay homage the village's own John Steinbeck with a dog walk next month.

Bay Street Theatre, in partnership with the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, will hold the "Travels with Charley" Dog Walk, starting at Havens Beach, on May 4 at 8:30 am. Jill Rappaport, a TODAY show correspondent and award-winning animal advocate, is going to serve as the celebrity host along with Babara Slifka.

 The walk will finish at Bay Street Theatre, where a "bagels and bones" reception will be held. Water will be offered to both dogs and owners along the way.

“We wanted to do something a little different to honor Steinbeck Weekend in Sag Harbor, and Steinbeck’s "Travels With Charley" seemed like the perfect theme and ARF is the perfect partner for this event,” Tracy Mitchell, the theater's executive director, said.

In 1960, Steinbeck left Sag Harbor and drove across the country with his French poodle, Charley. “Travels With Charley" later became a best-seller.

“ARF is thrilled to be partnering with Bay Street for this special dog walk," Sara Davison, the executive director of ARF, said. “We’re looking forward to bringing some ARF dogs to do the walk and maybe get adopted."

The dog walk is in the same vein as a 5K or walk-a-thon. There’s an entrance fee of $25, or $35 on the day of event, entrants are asked to raise funds by asking friends to sponsor them with a donation. A grand prize will be awarded to the person who brings in the most amount of money raised.

Proceeds are being shared between ARF and Bay Street Theatre.

Sponsor sheets are available at Bay Street Theatre box office or at ARF in Wainscott, or can be downloaded on the theater's website. Walkers may also sign-up at Havens Beach on May 4 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.