They Could Be Heroes: Nominations Open for Pet Rock Fest Heroes for the Animals (or Animal Heroes)

Pet Rock Fest is welcoming nominations for its annual hero awards for Pet Rock 2023.

Let us know about someone or who has worked tirelessly for the protection and welfare of animals, or someone who has performed an act of pure kindness to save or protect animals. There are all kinds, and each year, Pet Rock Fest acknowledges these wonderful people with a Pet Rock Hero Award.

If you would like to nominate an animal who has performed a heroic act this past year, let us know about that, too.

We'll choose two people heroes and one animal hero each to be awarded the Pet Rock Fest 2023 Animal Hero Award with a presentation at Pet Rock Fest 2023 on Sunday, Sept.10, at SAC Park in Shrewsbury, MA.

Past recipients have included police officers, rescue group leaders and fire departments, as well as individuals who simply took it upon themselves to follow through with an act of kindness to help an animal, or many animals.

Send your nominations to petrockfest@gmail.com with "2023 Hero Nomination" in the subject heading. Please include a description as to why this person (or animal) should be named at Pet Rock Fest Hero.

PET ROCK FEST 2022 Holds Online Auction in Lieu of Annual Festival

While it is disappointing that Pet Rock Fest, Inc., is forced to take a pause from holding its annual festival, the nonprofit announces an online auction in its place, kicking off with a Facebook Live event and continuing on its Facebook page for two weeks.

With a kickoff Facebook Live event at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11, on the official Pet Rock Festival Facebook page, this auction, which features items ranging in restaurant gift cards to pet products, will continue for two weeks following the kickoff.

Go HERE to take part in the auction!

Pet Rock Fest, which donates 100% of its proceeds to well-researched animal welfare organizations throughout New England, invites fans and participants to keep an eye on the auction selections on our FB page, posting the bidding on each of those items in the comments section under the photo. Winning bidders then email organizers with information, and can provide the donation by clicking the donate button on our website, or using Venmo (or sending a check). The item will then be on its way to the winner!

Fear not, loyal puppies, kittens and ducklings. Pet Rock Fest will announce plans for an event in lieu of the festival this year, but will also make its triumphant return with the traditional Pet Rock Festival on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 (yes, next year!), at our new home: the Hudson-Concord Elks Lodge, 99 Park St., Hudson, MA.

“Unfortunately, holding the festival at Wyman-Gordon, where it has been held the last four years (except for 2020, when Pet Rock Fest was held virtually), isn’t an option anymore,” explains Charlene Arsenault, founding partner. “We were hoping to hold the event there for another year. It wasn’t in the cards, and as much as we tried, we couldn’t find an appropriate alternative for 2022. But we’re already planning for next year! In fact, the festival organizers and volunteers are using the opportunity to revamp the event into something even grander and more momentous.”

Jeannie Hebert, founding partner, adds: “Supporting animals is our passion, and for more than 20 years Pet Rock Fest has allowed us to raise funds to assist organizations who share that passion with us. It was a difficult decision to make, but unfortunately, this year we find the festival to be as homeless—just like some of the animals we help. In 2023, we will be back with a new and better location to grow Pet Rock Fest to offer more support to the organizations that work so hard for the animals.”

Pet Rock Fest continues to put the spotlight on the animal welfare organizations of New England that work hard to promote kindness to animals.

Located conveniently off of Route 495, the new venue centrally located in Hudson is easily accessible from points east, west, north, and south, and better accommodates our allies and fans in MetroWest Boston. Also, the location boasts an expansive, grassy, fenced-in event area, a covered pavilion, areas shaded by trees, and hundreds of parking spaces at the adjacent high school building. It is ideal for both people and animals.

In fact, there is plenty of space, and beyond, for all of Pet Rock Festival’s popular attractions-and more-including: K9 demos; an agility course; the disc dog team; live music; the Rescue Groups and Shelters Pet Parade; kids activities, cat photo contest; book signings, annual Pet Rock Hero awards; speakers; amateur dog contest; vegetarian food court; animal mascots, doggie massages, demonstrations, free and low-cost microchipping and rabies shots; a doggie water park; photos of your pets; animal-friendly vendors; and, most importantly, hundreds of nonprofit groups devoted to welfare causes related to all animals.

“It’s certainly disappointing to skip a year,” continues Arsenault, “but it will give us a chance to strengthen and expand upon what is already an amazing, signature event that has had a remarkable impact on the animal welfare community."

Stay tuned for updates on alternate Pet Rock Fest-sponsored fundraisers, as well as the return of the Pet Rock Festival in 2023.

Anyone interested in volunteering for, performing at, or taking part in the 2023 festival in any way (including vendors and sponsors), or in joining the volunteer team, should contact petrockfest@gmail.com. Please do not hesitate. We’re very eager to grow our team and participants.

Did you miss the link to the auction? Here IT IS again!

For updates on the plans for the day, groups signed up to attend, and other official or not-so-official news, visit petrockfest.org or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/petrockfest and on Twitter @Petrockfestival.

Celebrating more than 23 years, Pet Rock Fest is the largest event of its kind in the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership. Pet Rock Fest, held in September each year, is a family festival that features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music, games, events, a raffle, vendors, and hundreds of area animal welfare organizations. Pet Rock is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax-deductible.

PET ROCK FEST “Pawses” 2022–PLANS AHEAD FOR 2023

We tried. We waited. Regretfully, Pet Rock Fest organizers announce that its flagship festival, held the last several years at Wyman Gordon in Grafton, MA, will “paws” for 2022.

Fear not, loyal puppies, kittens and ducklings. Pet Rock Fest will announce plans for an event in lieu of the festival this year, but will also make its triumphant return with the traditional Pet Rock Festival on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 (yes, next year!), at our new home: the Hudson-Concord Elks Lodge, 99 Park St., Hudson, MA.

“Unfortunately, holding the festival at Wyman-Gordon, where it has been held the last four years (except for 2020, when Pet Rock Fest was held virtually), isn’t an option anymore,” explains Charlene Arsenault, founding partner. “We were hoping to hold the event there for another year. It wasn’t in the cards, and as much as we tried, we couldn’t find an appropriate alternative for 2022. But we’re already planning for next year! In fact, the festival organizers and volunteers are using the opportunity to revamp the event into something even grander and more momentous.”

Jeannie Hebert, founding partner, adds: “Supporting animals is our passion, and for more than 20 years Pet Rock Fest has allowed us to raise funds to assist organizations who share that passion with us. It was a difficult decision to make, but unfortunately, this year we find the festival to be as homeless—just like some of the animals we help. In 2023, we will be back with a new and better location to grow Pet Rock Fest to offer more support to the organizations that work so hard for the animals.”

Pet Rock Fest continues to put the spotlight on the animal welfare organizations of New England that work hard to promote kindness to animals.

Located conveniently off of Route 495, the new venue centrally located in Hudson is easily accessible from points east, west, north and south, and better accommodates our allies and fans in MetroWest Boston. Also, the location boasts an expansive, grassy, fenced-in event area, a covered pavilion, areas shaded by trees, and hundreds of parking spaces at the adjacent high school building. It is ideal for both people and animals.

In fact, there is plenty of space, and beyond, for all of Pet Rock Festival’s popular attractions-and more-including: K9 demos; an agility course; the disc dog team; live music; the Rescue Groups and Shelters Pet Parade; kids activities, cat photo contest; book signings, annual Pet Rock Hero awards; speakers; amateur dog contest; vegetarian food court; animal mascots, doggie massages, demonstrations, free and low-cost microchipping and rabies shots; a doggie water park; photos of your pets; animal-friendly vendors; and, most importantly, hundreds of nonprofit groups devoted to welfare causes related to all animals.

“It’s certainly disappointing to skip a year,” continues Arsenault, “but it will give us a chance to strengthen and expand upon what is already an amazing, signature event that has had a remarkable impact on the animal welfare community."

Stay tuned for updates on alternate Pet Rock Fest-sponsored fundraisers, as well as the return of the Pet Rock Festival in 2023.

Anyone interested in volunteering for, performing at, or taking part in the 2023 festival in any way (including vendors and sponsors), or in joining the volunteer team, should contact petrockfest@gmail.com. Please do not hesitate. We’re very eager to grow our team and participants.

For updates on the plans for the day, groups signed up to attend, and other official or not so official news, visit petrockfest.org or check us out on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/petrockfest and on Twitter @Petrockfestival.

Celebrating more than 23 years, Pet Rock Fest is the largest event of its kind in the Northeast, an annual festival that promotes kindness to animals and responsible pet ownership. Pet Rock Fest, held in September each year, is a family festival that features guest speakers, vegetarian food, live music, games, events, a raffle, vendors, and hundreds of area animal welfare organizations. Pet Rock is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization. Donations are tax deductible.