'Pet Rock' Festival Will Mark 25 Years This Weekend In Shrewsbury

SHREWSBURY, MA — One of the largest pet rock festivals in the Northeast will migrate to Shrewsbury this weekend to celebrate its 25th year.

(And to be clear, this is a festival for pets that rock, not rocks that are pets.)

The Pet Rock Festival is one of the largest animal welfare events around, serving as a fundraiser for several major local animal groups, and offering plenty of activities for people and their furry friends.

The festival regularly supports groups like the MSPCA, Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon, Rhode Island-based Foster Parrots and the Animal Legal Defense Fund. But dozens of animal welfare groups will be on hand for the 2023 festival.

The festival will also feature local restaurants service vegetarian food, a cat photo contest, a water park for dogs, an owner-pet lookalike contest and music from regional bands, including "The Voice" contestant Ricky Duran. See the full lineup here.

The festival has been held in various places across eastern Worcester County in recent years, and this year will curl up at the Scandinavian-American Club park along Lake Street.