2026 Events Schedule

Stage One (The Music Stage)

schedule subject to change

Emcee: Legendary media personality Peter “Zip” Zipfel

Noon: opening remarks – Founding partners Charlene Arsenault and Jeannie Hebert kick off the festival with an enthusiastic welcome to all

12:15 p.m.: The Dirty Genes

1:15 p.m. The Black Souls

2:15 p.m. Decades by Dezyne (HEADLINER)

3:15 p.m. Solmere

Stage Two (The Animal Action Stage)

Schedule subject to change

12:30 p.m. Annual Pet Rock Festival "Juno" Hero Awards presentation to Raptor Tales and others TBA

1 p.m. Animal Shelter and Rescue Group Pet Parade

1:45 p.m. Blessing of the animals with Reverend Meghan Mantler from The Nativity Church in Northborough

2:00 p.m. Amateur Dog Show (SIGN UP AT THE MAIN INFO TENT)

Prizes include medals, trophies and prize bags stuffed with prizes from sponsors Maggie's Food for Pets, L & B's Sweets and Treats, Woofie's of Northborough, Pet Wants Newton, BOZBARS and more

2 p.m. Best Senior Dog
2:15 p.m. Owner-Dog Lookalike
2:30 p.m. Waggiest Tail
2:45 p.m. Most Unique Look
3 p.m. Sweetest Face

3:30 p.m. Featured speakers including Senator Michael Moore

3:45 p.m.: Drawing for the two lottery winners (each nonprofit receiving $500 from Pet Rock)

AT THE INFORMATION/RAFFLE PAVILION

Cat Photo Contest sponsored by the Pet Barn, trophies and winners posted at the start of the festival, at the INFO TENT. This popular contest is judged by representatives from Ellie's Pet Barn. First, second and third place winners receive gift cards from Ellie's Pet Barn, a trophy, prizes from various supporting sponsors, and a burst of local fame!

Buy your official Pet Rock T-shirt, hat, bandana or tank top and other Pet Rock items

Pick up information and pamphlets distributed by various animal organizations

The display of the Wall of Shame and Wall of Fame – check out the best and worst in animal news this year

Take part in the raffle, which is called in three rounds at the information tent (check times for announcements): see below for updated list of raffle prizes. Also, a 50/50 raffle!

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

Come Hungry: The Pet Rock Food Court

Pet Rock Fest is all about being kind to animals — and that extends to what's on the menu. Our Vegetarian Food Court returns this year with some seriously good eating, including two food trucks making their Pet Rock debut.

Tandoor & Curry on Wheels is bringing a full vegetarian menu packed with Indian favorites, including crispy vegetable samosas, samosa chaat, spring rolls, chana masala, paneer tikka masala and vegetable curry with basmati rice. There's even a veggie burger for anyone whose taste buds aren't quite ready to travel that far. Several selections are vegan and gluten-free, too.

Souped Up Food is rolling in with a menu made especially for Pet Rock Fest, including creamy butternut squash soup with apples; a vegan Thai rainbow wrap with vegetables, tofu and peanut sauce; a vegetarian cheeseburger; grilled cheddar with apple chutney; a fall-inspired harvest bowl; and loaded tater tots topped with three-bean chili, cheese, sour cream and scallions. Several items can also be made vegan.

And save room for something sweet: Baked by Danny will be there with cookies and other delectable baked goods. Souped Up is getting into the dessert-and-drinks game, too, with chocolate chip cookies and homemade blueberry lemonade.

You definitely don't have to be vegetarian to eat well at Pet Rock Fest. Come hungry.

We've got DRINKS! Oh boy, do we have beverages this year, including those with alcohol. First of all, major sponsor (for the second year in a row) Tito's Handmade Vodka has Tito's PUPTAILS for sale.

And, in addition to water and soda and TITO'S PUPTAILS, JJ's Drink Shack offers these options:

Coors Light/Lite 16oz Alum
Corona Extra cans
Sun Cruiser Vodka & Tea cans
Truly Wildberry Hard Seltzer cans
White Claw Black Cherry Hard Seltzer cans
Wachusett Oktoberfest cans
Wachusett Pumpkin cans
Sam Adams Wicked Hazy cans
Heineken 0.0 cans

Watch Them Fly! Pups in the Air Disc Dogs

Get ready for some serious airtime! Pups in the Air, New England's high-energy disc dog team, returns to Pet Rock Fest with incredible displays of speed, athleticism and downright gravity-defying canine talent.

Set to music, the fast-paced shows feature dogs racing across the field, launching themselves into the air and making spectacular flying-disc catches alongside their handlers. The team includes experienced disc dog competitors and national competition qualifiers — but the real stars, of course, are the dogs, who clearly love every second of it. SHOWTIMES are 12:30, 2 and 4 p.m. 🐕🥏

Dogs on Duty

Mass Vest-Dog K-9 demos, led by Littleton K-9 Officer Brian Casey and K-9 Milo, take place at 1 and 3 p.m. Officer Casey has been with the Littleton PD since 2008. His first K-9 was Vojak and worked for nine years, now enjoying retirement with the Casey family. K-9 Milo is a four-year-old dual purpose German Shepherd, certified in patrol and narcotics detection. K-9 Milo and Officer Casey were certified by NAPWDA USPCA and Boston Police K-9 Academy. Officer Casey also serves on the board of MA Vest-a-Dog.

Hot Diggity Nail Trimmings

Hot Diggity Dog is offering doggie nail trimmings for a suggested $15 donation, with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to Pet Rock Fest!. Hot Diggity Dog is a Worcester based in home Pet nail trimming service that allows your pets to get their nails done right in the comfort of their own home.

Splish-Splash! Cool Off at the Doggie Water Park

Sometimes even a party animal needs to cool off! The Pet Rock Fest Doggie Water Park is the perfect pit stop for hot, thirsty pups who need a break from exploring the festival.

Let your dog splash through the sprinklers, wade — or belly-flop — into the pools, cool those paws and generally make a wonderfully wet mess. Fresh water bowls will also be available so pups can stop for a drink and recharge before heading back out for more Pet Rock adventures.

Some dogs cautiously dip a paw. Others head straight for the water like they’ve been waiting all year for this moment. Either way, it’s almost as much fun watching them enjoy the Doggie Water Park as it is for them to play in it. So bring your pooch by, cool off and make a splash. Wet dogs welcome! 💦🐾

Meet Blue the Owl — Raptor Tales Rescue

Keep your eyes to the skies — or at least around the fairgrounds! Blue, a non-releasable barred owl and educational ambassador for Raptor Tales Rescue of Shrewsbury, will make a special appearance at Pet Rock Fest from noon to 3 p.m. Rather than staying put at a booth, Blue and a Raptor Tales representative will be out and about around the festival, giving Pet Rockers an up- close look at one of New England’s magnificent native birds of prey.

Raptor Tales Rescue specializes in rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing injured and orphaned wildlife, with particular expertise in birds of prey. A representative will be on hand to answer questions about Blue, raptors, wildlife rehabilitation and what to do when you encounter wildlife in need. Raptor Tales Rescue is also one of this year’s Pet Rock Fest Juno Hero Award recipients, recognized for its extraordinary commitment to giving injured wildlife a second chance at life in the wild. Look for Blue around the festival between noon and 3 p.m.!

Rescue Treasures: Shop for a Bargain, Help an Animal

Everybody loves a good find — especially when 100% of what you spend helps animals.

New to Pet Rock Fest this year, Rescue Treasures, hosted by longtime Pet Rock Fest supporter and major sponsor MA Homes, is part treasure hunt, part pet boutique and entirely for a good cause.

Everything at the booth has been donated and is either new or gently used, with bargains ranging from crates and carriers to pet beds and throws, collars and leashes, toys, dishes, dog coats, grooming supplies, books, games and plenty of other finds — including a few treasures for the humans, too.

Best of all, 100% of the proceeds from Rescue Treasures will be donated to Pet Rock Fest, helping us continue supporting animal shelters, rescues and other animal welfare organizations and causes throughout New England.

Stop by, poke around and see what you can uncover. You might leave with something your pet loves, score a bargain for yourself — and help animals at the same time.

Shop. Save. Help animals. That's a pretty good deal. 🐾

Meet the Animals of Diego’s Friends Farm Sanctuary

Diego’s Friends Farm Sanctuary is coming to Pet Rock Fest with some very special animal ambassadors: Misty, a Paint mare; Pumpkin Spice, a Juliana mini pig; and Trooper, a Great Pyrenees. Throughout the festival, visitors can meet the animals while learning about livestock welfare, nutrition, enrichment, responsible ownership, and large-animal safety and rescue. The Diego’s Friends team also shares some of what makes pigs and horses such intelligent, complex animals with personalities very much their own.

For anyone who has ever thought about bringing livestock animals home, the sanctuary offers practical information about everything from checking local zoning and farming laws and preparing appropriate living spaces to understanding what responsible ownership actually involves. Species-specific resources available for chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, and horses.

Diego’s Friends also shares educational resources from Empowered Equines promoting positive-reinforcement training for horses and other animals, along with information about horse rescue, MSPCA emergency training, and responding safely to large-animal emergencies. Be sure to stop by (Diego's Friends is in the pavilion area), say hello to Misty, Pumpkin Spice and Trooper, and learn a little more about the animals that call Diego’s Friends Farm Sanctuary home.

In Character

Stitch roams the grounds, delighting kids and adults (and dogs) alike, as do the FURSUITERS, a whimsical group of furry animal mascots (including Synth and Illume,) who delight the masses at fundraisers and charity events throughout New England.

JUNO'S PLACE returns to Pet Rock Fest! While sadly we lost Juno in 2023, the legacy for this ambassador for animal welfare known as “the little dog who does big things” continues. Juno's Place spreads awareness about various animal causes such as spay/neuter, working against breed specific legislation and promoting adoption. At Pet Rock Fest, Juno's pack includes Sweetpea Friends for Rutland Animals, Paws 4 a Cure, Mass Vest-A-Dog. And next door, visit the amazing Burt's Brigade!

Goat & Bunny Yoga

Stretch, breathe and prepare to have your downward dog interrupted by a goat — or possibly a bunny. Beyond Yoga & Wellness is switching things up at Pet Rock Fest this year with Goat & Bunny Yoga, presented in partnership with Ivy Hill Farm, a Sterling nonprofit dedicated to community wellness and animal-assisted therapy.

The all-levels, 45-minute slow vinyasa session runs from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. and pairs an outdoor yoga practice with rescued goats and bunnies who will frolic, cuddle and generally do their best to steal the show. Most of Ivy Hill Farm's animals are rescues, and all have found permanent homes at the farm. The session is open to all ages and costs $18, with mats available to rent for $2. Come for a little relaxation, harmony and animal-assisted joy — and give some very deserving rescued animals plenty of love along the way.

Advance registration is recommended: Reserve your spot with Beyond Yoga & Wellness

VCA Hospitals answer questions regarding your pets wellness care through our “Ask the Vet” sessions.

Couch Potato or Canine Athlete? Take the Agility Challenge

Think your dog has what it takes? Central Massachusetts Disaster Animal Response Team (CMDART) returns to Pet Rock Fest with its popular fun(d)-raising agility course, giving you and your pup a chance to try your paws at a sport that's all about teamwork between dogs and their people. For $7, you and your dog will get a mini introduction to agility and a chance to take on the course together — no experience necessary. It's about having fun, trying something new and maybe discovering that your couch-loving canine has been hiding some serious athletic ability.

There's an important mission behind the fun, too. CMDART will be sharing information about emergency and disaster preparedness for people and their animals, helping pet owners learn how to be ready when the unexpected happens. Funds raised will benefit CMDART, Pet Rock Fest and the Animal Control Officers Association of Massachusetts (ACOAM). Come give it a try — your dog may surprise you! 🐾

Sit! Good Boy

Animal Assisted Therapy Services conduct Canine Good Citizen tests. The AKC Canine Good Citizen test is regarded as the “gold standard” of dog obedience. In fact, some homeowners insurance companies will even offer a discount if the family’s dog has passed the AKC CGC. The CGC test involves 10 test items; all ten must be passed to receive your AKC certificate. Please visit the AaTs MA booth (look for the therapy dogs!) to take the CGC test. Walk-ups welcome. Test cost is $25 donation to AaTs MA. *AKC Tricks, CGCA, CGCU only offered if time allows*

Meet the animals of The Refuge at Lyric Farm

The Refuge at Lyric Farm Animal Sanctuary returns to Pet Rock Fest this year with some familiar — and very popular — faces: Crystal the alpaca, Merry Berry the sheep and Cosmo the goat. Stop by to meet these crowd- favorite ambassadors and learn about The Refuge’s work providing a safe home for animals with unique needs. You can also sign up for Updates from the Farm, featuring news, upcoming happenings and stories about rescued residents, or Remi’s Ruminations, written by a precocious, FOMO-afflicted goat who has appointed himself the

barnyard reporter. About once a month, Remi “borrows” someone’s

phone to report on the things that matter most to him and his barnyard

friends. But mostly him. Located in Uxbridge, The Refuge at Lyric Farm is

an animal sanctuary where animals with unique needs find safety — and

where people of all ages can connect with them through care, curiosity and kindness.

WCRN broadcasts live from the fest!

Kids and adults, get your face painted and enjoy balloon animals with Polka Dottie the Clown!

ENTER the Pet Rock Fest raffle, with tons of prizes that range from gift cards, to gift baskets to professional artwork and tickets

Filling up Lacey's Lunchbox

Lacey's Lunchbox is collecting pet food donations at this year's Pet Rock Fest. A "take what you need, leave what you can" pet food pantry with three locations (and growing),

the organization is aimed at supporting pet owners in times of financial need. Lacey's provides free and accessible pet food through community-driven pantries and collections (today being one of those!), ensuring that no pet goes hungry. The project is in loving memory of Lacey, a service dog who was taken far too soon by cancer. Donations of unopened and unexpired dog and cat food will be graciously accepted at their booth.