Pet Rock Fest Marks 28 Years of Music, Rescue and a Shared Mission to Help Animals

The 2026 festival brought animal welfare organizations, music and animal lovers together at Lancaster Fairgrounds, with awards, demonstrations and a renewed commitment to collaboration

LANCASTER, MA — The Lancaster Fairgrounds went to the dogs — and the goats, rabbits, horses, birds and plenty of other creatures — on Sunday, Oct. 4, as the 28th annual Pet Rock Festival brought together animal lovers, rescue organizations, advocates and supporters from across New England for an afternoon devoted to helping animals.

With comfortable fall temperatures and weather seemingly tailor-made for four-legged festivalgoers, the event marked Pet Rock Fest's third year at the Lancaster Fairgrounds, home of the Bolton Fair.

The festival, founded in 1999, once again combined live music, animal demonstrations, rescue and adoption awareness, family activities, vendors and fundraising in support of animal welfare organizations and causes throughout the region.

Headlining this year's musical lineup was New England powerhouse Decades by DeZyne, whose high-energy performance featured music spanning six decades, including Motown favorites and classic hits. The afternoon also featured performances by The Black Souls, The Dirty Genes and Solmere, bringing a mix of rock, soul, reggae and original music to the festival stage. Longtime Pet Rock sound engineer Harlan Chaput once again handled sound production for the event.

Throughout the fairgrounds, animal welfare organizations and rescues introduced visitors to their work, shared information about adoption and volunteer opportunities, and raised awareness of issues ranging from companion animal rescue to farm animal protection, wildlife rehabilitation and animal advocacy.

Participating organizations included Worcester Animal Rescue League, Second Chance Animal Services, Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, Paws 4 A Cure, Raptor Tales Rescue, Missing Dogs Massachusetts, NEADS, Save A Dog, Turtle Rescue League, Foster Parrots, Sowa Goat Sanctuary, Brown Dog Coalition and Refuge at Lyric Farm, among many others.

"Pet Rock Fest may provide the stage, but these organizations are the ones doing the work every day. They're the 'how' behind the 'why' of Pet Rock," said Founding Partner Charlene Arsenault.

Popular attractions included Pups in the Air flying disc dog demonstrations, Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog police K-9 demonstrations, CMDART's canine agility challenge, the Doggie Water Park, amateur dog contests, a cat photo contest, rescued farm animals and wildlife ambassadors.

Visitors also had opportunities to meet Blue, the barred owl ambassador from Raptor Tales Rescue, and participate in Goat & Bunny Yoga, presented by Beyond Yoga & Wellness in partnership with Ivy Hill Farm. VCA provided pet services, including microchipping and rabies vaccinations, while vendors offered pet products, merchandise and other goods.

The festival also featured the new Rescue Treasures fundraiser, hosted by sponsor MA Homes LLC, offering donated pet supplies and other merchandise to benefit Pet Rock Fest.

“After 28 years, what means the most is seeing so many people and organizations continue to come together for animals,” added Pet Rock Fest Founding Partner Jeannie Hebert. “It takes an incredible amount of work and a lot of generous people to make this happen every year. We're grateful to everyone who supports us, and we're excited about finding new ways to grow Pet Rock Fest and help even more animals.”

Rescue and shelter parade honors two organizations

One of the day's highlights was the annual Rescue & Shelter Pet Parade, which gives participating organizations an opportunity to introduce their animals, showcase their missions and connect with potential adopters and supporters.

This year's first-place honors ended in a tie between Refuge at Lyric Farm and Brown Dog Coalition, with each organization receiving $250 from Pet Rock Fest.

The festival's annual nonprofit Pet Rock Lottery also recognized two participating organizations, with Sowa Goat Sanctuary and A Place for Ace each receiving $500 to support their animal welfare work. Lots of winners took medals, trophies and prize baskets home from the festival for first, second and third places in the amateur dog contest. And this year's cat photo contest winners: Morty by Helen Carvalho, Fluffy by Melissa Frissora, and Fidget by Jenn Grenier. 

Additional proceeds from the 2026 festival will be distributed to deserving animal welfare organizations and causes in the coming weeks.

Juno Hero Awards celebrate extraordinary compassion

The 2026 Juno Hero Awards honored two recipients whose work demonstrates the many ways individuals and organizations can make a difference for animals.

Raptor Tales Rescue, a Central Massachusetts wildlife rehabilitation nonprofit, was recognized for its dedication to rescuing, rehabilitating and protecting injured and orphaned wildlife. Among its efforts this year was the rescue of a swan at Worcester's Salisbury Pond that had become entangled in fishing line.

Kara Kilian, owner of Hot Diggity Dog, was honored for using her professional skills and business resources to raise money for animals and people in need. Through charitable nail-trimming events, Kilian has supported animal rescues, veterinary care and community members facing difficult circumstances.

The awards, named in memory of Juno, a beloved rescue dog and symbol of animal advocacy, recognize exceptional compassion, commitment and service on behalf of animals.

Sponsors and supporters help make the festival possible

Pet Rock Fest's 2026 sponsors included MA Homes LLC, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Dogtopia, Fenway Bark, Lovin' Tenders/Specialty Products Resources Inc., Trupanion, TD Bank, Rainbow Bridge Pet Aquarium, Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG), Pet Wants Newton and Buzbars, among others.

Tito's Handmade Vodka returned with a festival bar featuring three signature Pet Rock cocktails, while the event's vegetarian food offerings reflected the organization's commitment to protecting animals of all kinds.

Organizers expressed particular appreciation for the volunteers, sponsors, participating organizations, vendors, performers and supporters who helped bring the event together.

The festival took place during a particularly busy weekend for regional fall events, including another animal-focused festival that had been rescheduled to the same date. Organizers said the overlap underscored both the challenges facing community events and the potential benefits of greater cooperation among organizations with similar missions.

After nearly three decades, Pet Rock Fest continues to navigate rising event costs, changing attendance patterns and the logistical challenges of organizing a large outdoor festival. But its central purpose remains unchanged: bringing together the people and organizations working to improve the lives of animals.

Looking ahead: A new chapter for Pet Rock Fest

With the 28th annual festival complete, organizers are turning their attention toward strengthening Pet Rock Fest as both an annual event and a year-round animal welfare nonprofit.

Plans include expanding the organization's volunteer and leadership team, developing new partnerships, improving festival logistics and participant experiences, strengthening sponsorship and fundraising efforts, and creating more opportunities to support animal welfare causes throughout the year.

Organizers also hope to build stronger relationships with other animal welfare events and organizations, recognizing that collaboration can help extend the reach and impact of their shared work.

For Pet Rock Fest, the goal is not simply to produce another successful festival, but to ensure that the organization remains a meaningful and effective resource for animal welfare for years to come.

Founded in 1999 in response to a local case of animal cruelty, Pet Rock Fest has grown into a longstanding Central Massachusetts tradition, raising awareness and distributing funds to organizations dedicated to rescue, rehabilitation, education, advocacy and the humane treatment of animals.

The organization announces recipients of additional 2026 festival proceeds in the weeks following the event.

For updates, photographs and information about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved, visit www.petrockfest.org or follow Pet Rock Fest on social media.

They Can't Talk, So We Will.

About Pet Rock Fest

Pet Rock Fest, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization founded in 1999 and dedicated to raising funds and awareness for animals in need. Its flagship event, the annual Pet Rock Festival, is one of New England's largest animal welfare festivals, bringing together rescue organizations, shelters, advocates, businesses and animal lovers for a day of education, entertainment and community involvement.

In addition to its annual festival, Pet Rock Fest supports animal welfare causes through fundraising, community outreach and other initiatives throughout the year. Over nearly three decades, the organization has raised and distributed substantial funds to animal-related charities and causes.

For more information, visit www.petrockfest.org.