Animal rights activists, lawyers, celebrities and food safety experts are lobbying to stop an upcoming festival that serves dog meat in Yulin, the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The annual festival, slated for June 21, involves eating dog meat hotpot and lychees and drinking strong liquor on the summer solstice. It is a cherished tradition among Yulin residents. Thousands of diners are expected to crowd streets and enjoy the feast.

Animal rights activists estimate that more than 10,000 dogs are killed during the festival, which has angered dog lovers and spurred criticism online.