ALL NEW! Click here to order your bottle (or two) of Pet Rock Wine, and help support the festival. 

The12th Annual Pet Rock Festival will take place Sunday, Sept. 12, 2010 [raindate, Sept. 19] from noon to 5 p.m., at Quinsigamond Community College, 670West Boylston St., Worcester. Tickets: $12 adults, $5 kids.

This year, PH Productions brings us an impressive lineup of Boston based rock and roll to kick up the musical part of this massive animal benefit.

Pet Rock is the largest animal expo on the East Coast. A daylong festival of fundraising fun for the entire family, including your dog, Pet Rock’s primary purpose is to promote responsible pet ownership, bring attention to animal cruelty and educate humans on a variety of animal related issues. Proceeds benefit New England animal welfare organizations. Pet Rock has given tens of thousands to worthy charities, including the Sterling Animal Shelter, the ASPCABird Program, Foster Parrots, Humane Society of the US: Youth, NEADS, theMSPCA, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Mass Vest A Dog, Commonwealth Cats, Echo Dog and many more.

But the focus is on fun, too. Pet Rock Fest boasts live music, vendors, a foodcourt sponsored by the Boston Vegetarian Society, a “kind kids” booth, disc dog performances, speakers, Clifford the Big Red Dog, games, prizes, raffles,speakers, rides and more than 200 breed rescues, shelters and animal welfareorganizations.

This year, we welcome back The Worcester Telegram and Gazette, which is once again producinga program guide to be included in its Thursday edition, and also handed out atthe festival.

The musical lineup is stellar, too, focusing on a star-packed punch of regionalartists who started with big hits in the ‘80s, and are still cranking today.Headliners include: Michael Cordings, Bruce Marshall, Charlie Farren and JonButcher, Grace Kelly, Doug Bell and Friends, Jon Macey and Steve Gilligan andspecial guests.  

Farren emerged onto the national scene in the early '80s after teaming up with Aerosmithlead guitarist Joe Perry and releasing an acclaimed album on CBS. In 1986 Charlie, along with Dave Hull (Joe Perry Project) and John Muzzy, formedFarrenheit and released a self-titled debut album on Warner Brothers. Threesingles from that album - “Fool in Love,” “Bad Habit” and 'Lost in Loveland”-  as well as video exposure on MTV, established Farrenheit as one of the premier new rock acts. Farren’s newest release 'Oldand Young' is getting rave reviews.

Grammy-nominated Butcher also emerged around the same time, helping to fuse the Boston soundthat was getting national exposure. With 18 releases under his belt, criticssay he’s stronger than ever.

But at Pet Rock, your pet is the star of the day (your dog is more than welcome,but for safety reasons we ask that other pets stay home). There are contests, rabies clinic, doggie massages, amateur dog show (with categories such as“owner-dog look alike” and “best vocalist”), New England Frisbee Dog Group, adoptable pet parade with prizes for participating rescues, professional portraits of your pet, cat photo contest and the popular doggie water park.

 Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if your nonprofit is interested in reserving a space for this year's festival. Also, sponsors and vendors should contact this address as well.

Pet Rock Fest on Facebook. Pet Rock on MySpace. 

WHAT IS THE PET ROCK FESTIVAL?

Now celebrating more than ten years in New England, Pet Rock Fest is an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals. Sponsored by: The Worcester Telegram & Gazette, The Second Chance Animal Shelter, Charter Communications, The Weekly Shuffle and and worcesterite.com, this expo features hundreds of tables, including breed rescues, shelters, animal welfare organizations and more. It's a see and be seen event for you and your dog to attend, but one that benefits ALL types of animals.

This family-friendly day includes an adoptable dog parade, contests, rabies clinic and low-cost microchipping, live music, a doggie water park, a cat photo contest, speakers, vendors, shows and food. It's a wonderful day for you and your leashed pet.  

Pet Rock Fest is a non-profit, tax exempt 501(3)c organization.

Photo by Jeff Loughlin at Pet Rock 2003