Mobile’s Animal Rescue Foundation will host the sixth annual Woofstock festival Sunday in Cathedral Square, a dog-centric fundraiser that has grown from a small neighborhood gathering into one of the city’s largest annual charity events.
Woofstock began five years ago with about 150 attendees in downtown Mobile. Last year’s event drew more than 5,000 people and raised roughly $57,000 for the no-kill shelter, according to Amanda Kramer, the event’s founder and executive director. Kramer said she is hoping to set a new fundraising record this year.
Music, Pets and Family Activities
Organizers credit the event’s mix of attractions for its steady growth. Live music from regional acts including the Wes Loper Band and singer-songwriter Kristy Lee will share billing with an extensive area of children’s activities and concessions that include adult beverages.
“You really do have everyone from [ages] 2 to 80,” Kramer said. “You don’t have to have a dog to enjoy the event.”
True to its name, Woofstock remains squarely focused on dogs rather than pets in general. “We haven’t had a cat brave enough to show up,” Kramer said.
Gates open Sunday at 11 a.m. in Cathedral Square. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger, with all proceeds benefiting the Animal Rescue Foundation.
Raising Money for a New Shelter
Organizers say this year’s proceeds will go toward a new adoption facility to replace the foundation’s current shelter, known as the “ARFanage,” on Holcombe Avenue. Kramer said the group is eager to replace the aging building with something larger and newer to support its work as a no-kill shelter.
“We try to get the ones nobody else wants, and give them a second chance,” Kramer said.
More information on Sunday’s event is available by emailing [email protected], and details on the Animal Rescue Foundation’s broader work can be found at www.animalrescuemobile.org.