Midcoast's largest festival for pets, Woofstock 2012, has changed venues this year, and will be hosted at the Damariscotta River Association at 110 Belvedere Road in Damariscotta, on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Now in its 8th year, Woofstock has been held at the Lincoln Home and at the Round Top Farm in previous years, but due to space constraints and the ever-growing size of the event, the Damariscotta River Association site was selected this year. Located on the scenic Great Salt Bay, the Damariscotta River Association offers beautiful views, ample parking and plenty of room for people and pets to gather. 

Woofstock 2012 opens at 10 a.m. with a parade of breeds, followed by a Flyball demonstration by Flyball MAINEiacs at 10:30 a.m., an agility demonstration at 11 a.m. with Positively Best Friends, Agility Run-Throughs from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Rally Obedience with Right on the Mark Dog Training at 12:30 p.m., Canine Good Citizen testing at 1 p.m. and Disc Dog at 2 p.m. Canine Good Citizen testing will also be offered throughout the day at the table for Kennebec Valley Shetland Sheepdog Rescue.

From noon to 2 p.m., the Holy Mackerels will be playing live music, a first for Woofstock. "Its such a fun event, and the Holy Mackerels came highly recommended by (Woofstock sponsor) King Eider's Pub, so we thought it would be a great match" Animal House co-owner and Woofstock Coordinator Aubrey Martin said. Holy Mackerel vocalist and guitarist Mark Stover said he is a huge pet lover and supporter of the Lincoln County Animal Shelter, which prompted them to accept the gig. The scheduled lineup for the The Holy Mackerels includes Mark Stover, Arthur Webster, Gabe Tonon, and Ronny Arsenault. 

King Eider's will be serving up the food for Woofstock attendees. Known for their wide selection of dishes, Eider's created a Woofstock menu which includes vegetarian and vegan options and gelato for dessert. 

Also new this year at Woofstock is the option for childcare at the Kids' Craft Tent. For a small donation, caregivers will watch 6-week-old to 10-year-old children, while parents make their way around the festival. The tent will have fencing and a security feature to ensure safety for the children. The tent is also open to parents who opt to stay, and includes animal-related crafts and games, including "Make Your Own Pet Rock," which is back by popular demand. 

Woofstock vendor and rescue spaces were reserved at a record pace this year, Martin reports. "We have over 40 pet-related vendors this year, including a whole area on tick prevention and Lyme disease (and other tick-related illnesses). There will be 14 rescues and shelters in attendance, all offering services such as micro-chipping, face painting, a dunk tank, and pet games. All proceeds from Woofstock are split between the 14 rescues and shelters. The individual organizations also keep the profit they make at their own tables. Plus, they get an opportunity to meet with people interested in adoption, volunteering and fostering, which is really beneficial."

The rescues and shelters scheduled include Lincoln County Animal Shelter, Humane Society of Knox County, Maine Greyhound Placement Service, Kennebec Valley Shetland Sheepdog Rescue, Mainely Dogs Rescue, Second Chance Boxer Rescue/New Life Boxer Rescue, A Paw in the Door, New England Border Collie Rescue, CT Underhound Railroad, Lucky Pup Rescue, Almost Home Rescue, Catahoula Rescue, Inc., Maine Australian Shepherd/Mini Aussie Rescue, and SOME Pit!

Woofstock 2012 is presented by The Animal House & SUDS! Grooming, a long-time advocate of rescue and adoption, and located at 15 Coastal Marketplace in Damariscotta. They are an award-winning business and feature healthy food and supplies for companion animals, including the largest selection of remedies and homeopathy in the state. 

For more information, including a list of vendors, directions and schedule of events, visit www.woofstockmaine.com.