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26th annual Pet Rock Festival, which promotes animal welfare, set for October at Lancaster Fairgrounds

LANCASTER โ€” The 26th annual Pet Rock Festival is going to take place Sunday, October 6, 2024, from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, the home of the Bolton Fair.

Hosted by Pet Rock, a nonprofit organization, the festival showcases the work of animal welfare organizations throughout New England.

This yearโ€™s festival offers a wide array of attractions including: K9 demonstrations, an agility course hosted by the Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (CMDART), and the โ€œPups In The Airโ€ disc dog team.

Other attractions include the โ€œRescue Groups and Shelters Pet Parade,โ€ kidsโ€™ activities, a cat photo contest, book signings, the annual Pet Rock Hero awards, speakers, an amateur dog contest, and a vegetarian food court. Attendees can also enjoy animal mascots, doggie massages, and there will be both free and low-cost microchipping and rabies shots for your pets.

โ€œAfter losing our previous โ€˜forever homes,โ€™ we’ve tried several other locations,โ€ said Charlene Arsenault, Pet Rock Festโ€™s founding partner. โ€œFor anyone whoโ€™s attended, you know we need a lot of space, land, and parking to pull off this festival. We know weโ€™ve said it before, but we truly believe this new location might finally be ‘the one.'”

  • Woman throwing frisbee to dog at prior Pet Rock Festival. (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)
  • Musician Ricky Duran performing at Pet Rock Festival. (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)
  • Someone holding up a dog at a prior Pet Rock Festival. (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)
  • People waiting for the parade to start at Pet Rock Festival. (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)
  • The crowd at a prior Pet Rock Festival. (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)
  • Woman holding a dog in a contest at Pet Rock Festival (Photo Credit: Charlene Arsenault)

In addition to the aforementioned attractions, this yearโ€™s festival will feature a doggie water park, pet photography, and numerous animal-friendly vendors. The musical lineup includes performances by the Office Party Band, Petty Larceny (a Tom Petty tribute band rebranded as PETty Larceny for the day), Vivi and Da Funk, and headliner Ricky Duran.

โ€œIt has been challenging to find a venue that fits Pet Rock Fest’s format, footprint, and mission,โ€ added Jeannie Hebert, another founding partner. โ€œAfter much searching, Charlene and I are confident we have found a home. Weโ€™re looking forward to hosting the next 25 years here!โ€

Anyone interested in volunteering, performing, or participating in the festivalโ€”whether as a vendor, sponsor, or animal welfare organizationโ€”should reach out to petrockfest@gmail.com. For more updates, visit Pet Rock Festโ€™s Facebook page or check out the official website at petrockfest.org.

Event Details:

What: Pet Rock Fest 2024
When: Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, noon to 5 p.m. 
Where: Lancaster Fairgrounds (Home of the Bolton Fair), 318-7 Bridge Road, Lancaster, MA 
Cost: $15 adults, $5 kids 12 and under 

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