5 Dog Friendly Music Festivals in the US
Music festivals are fun places to bond outdoors with your dog while listening to some great tunes, but not all music festivals allow dogs. It’s important to know ahead of time whether the festival you want to go to is dog friendly since it might put a serious crimp in your plans if you find out at the last minute that your dog can’t go with you.
Below you’ll learn about five dog friendly music festivals across the United States that you can take your dog with you. These festivals not only allow you to bring your best furry friend with you, some of them are even pet-themed. Read on to learn more about these dog friendly music festivals and what you need to bring your dog with you.
Are Dogs Usually Allowed At Music Festivals?
Outdoor music festivals can be a fun place to bring your dog. However, the unfortunate truth is that many larger music festivals such as Woodstock, Coachella, and Bonnaroo don’t allow dogs unless they’re certified service dogs. This is for several reasons:
- The size of the festival: With festivals that involve thousands of people, there’s no way for festival staff to easily regulate the behavior of dogs and dog owners. The large number of people can also be stressful for dogs on a sensory level and cause them to be more reactive.
- Accommodations: Many music festivals don’t have proper facilities for people to handle dog waste or keep their dogs a reasonable amount of space away from other festival goers who may not necessarily want to be that close to a dog.
- Volume: The larger the music festival, the louder the electronic equipment used to project the sound across the crowds. Booming audio equipment can be scary and painful for dogs, who can hear much higher sound frequencies than people.
Enough music festivals don’t allow dogs that it’s a very good idea for you to check beforehand while you’re still planning your festival trip. The last thing you want is to get to the festival grounds and realize that the dog you have with you isn’t allowed inside. Worst case scenario, you’ll end up missing the music festival altogether.
5 Dog Friendly Music Festivals in the US
West Fest Chicago and Pet Fest
Chicago, Illinois
West Fest in Chicago is a dog-friendly weekend event in July that features live music from several original bands along with local restaurants, artisans, and crafters. This music festival has a dog-centric slant, with the following dog-themed activities and attractions:
- Charity dog wash: A charity dog wash at West Fest can help your dog cool off and get clean at the festival at the same time. All festival proceeds go to One Tail at a Time and Alive Rescue, two local dog rescue groups. (Source: West Town Chamber)
- Dog obstacle course: Ever wondered if your dog would be cut out for agility? Test their skills on the doggie obstacle course.
- Paw painting arts and crafts: The paw painting station at West Fest allows pups to create their own painting masterpieces and take them home.
- Dog caricature artist: Want a one-of-a-kind portrait of your favorite pooch? Get their picture drawn to take away a festival souvenir for your and your bud.
- Dog wading and paddling pools: July in Chicago can get warm, so dog wading and paddling pools are provided to help dogs cool off in the summer heat.
This festival offers a nice cool weekend diversion if you want to get out with your pup and explore the best food, art, and music that Chicago has to offer.
Rockbridge Mountain Music and Dance Festival
Buena Vista, Virginia
EDM music festivals tend to discourage dogs, but one type of music festival that tends to welcome our canine friends are bluegrass and fiddling festivals. These festivals are usually much smaller than the larger music festivals, making them a better fit for dogs to visit.
Rockbridge Festival is focused on Appalachian jam sessions and bluegrass music, so there aren’t as many dog-centric activities. However, if you’re interested in music there are a ton of chances to see live music as well as participate in jam sessions of your own if you play an instrument.
Rockbridge Festival also features the following attractions:
- Beginner and advanced harmonica workshops: If you want to get better at playing harmonia, Rockbridge is an awesome place to learn.
- Guitar, bass, and fiddle workshops: If you’re a musician these workshops are great for helping hone your craft and meet up with fellow musicians. If you’re just a fan, you’re still welcome to sit in and learn something about how bluegrass music is made.
- Bluegrass concerts: While this festival traditionally features old-fashioned bluegrass dancing, COVID restrictions have turned these dances into bluegrass concerts instead. However, there’s still plenty of great music to be had.
With an emphasis on camping and a low-key atmosphere, Rockbridge is a hidden gem music festival that’s a great choice if you have a dog which enjoys more laid-back environments.
Albino Skunk Music Festival
Greer, South Carolina
Albino Skunk Music Festival is a music festival that runs in the fall from September 30th through October 2nd. This festival is held in a woodsy environment that is great for camping. It’s named for the white skunks that have been sighted where the festival grounds are normally set up, a property known as The SkunkFarm.
Billed as a bluegrass-themed Coachella, this unique music festival is great for both dogs and kids. It features twenty-two live entertainers as well as some of these other attractions:
- Festival grounds camping: Camping starts on the Thursday at the beginning of the festival, and campers are expected to be packing up and heading home by Sunday evening. The option to stay on the festival grounds all weekend is great for people traveling with their dogs that don’t want to get a hotel.
- Food and craft vendors: There is a wide variety of merchandise available at the festival from tee-shirts and jewelry to coozies. Food stalls and trucks are also available throughout the weekend.
If you want to experience a large number of bluegrass and folk bands, the Albino Skunk Music Festival is one of the bigger ones available that you can attend and still take your dog with you.
Do Dah Day Music Festival
Birmingham, Alabama
Do Dah Day is a combination music festival and pet parade, so it’s a good music festival to attend with your pooch if you want your buddy front and center for the festivities. The festival features a dog parade at 11:00 AM the Saturday of the festival and commences with live music at noon.
Including live music, here are some of the other attractions offered at Do Dah Day:
- Crawfish boil: Do Dah Day is one of the best times to get fresh crawfish in Birmingham since buckets of the shiny red shellfish are cooked up each year at the music festival.
- Do Dah Eve: Do Dah Eve is a warm-up drinking event at Cahaba Brewing Company that features live music and trivia.
- Croonin’ for Critters: Croonin’ for Critters is a musical charity event where local Birmingham musicians sing to benefit homeless animals.
If you want the money you spend at your dog friendly music festival to directly help animal charities, Do Dah Day is definitely worth checking out. This music festival features plenty of activities that will keep both you and your dog entertained for the weekend.
Catfish River Music Festival
Stoughton, Wisconsin
This music festival is organized by the Stoughton Opera House. The admission to this festival is free to the public through generous donations, making it a great option for people operating on a tight recreational budget.
The Catfish River Music Festival goes on during Fourth of July weekend too, so it’s a good place to celebrate the holiday. It coincides with a Junior Fair for the city’s children and a city-sponsored fireworks show. Note: If your dog is frightened of fireworks, plan on leaving the festival before they start or choose a different one.
Along with live music, Stoughton features plenty of food and shopping. This town has a scenic small town atmosphere you’ll love for its mellow vibes. Music is performed at the Rotary House gazebo, and there’s also a beer and wine tent so you can get your buzz on, too.
What Should I Bring With My Dog If I Take It to a Festival?
Going to a music festival with a dog means bringing along stuff for your furry friend to help keep them comfortable and safe during the event. One of the big indicators of whether you have fun with your dog at a music festival or not depends on whether you have everything you need to keep the dog happy and secure.
Here is a list of essentials you should plan on bringing with you if you take your dog to a music festival:
- Updated ID and veterinary records: If your dog gets separated from you in a crowd or has a medical emergency, you’ll want all of your necessary records up-to-date to speed up medical aid.
- A non-retractable leash: Your dog needs to be secured on a short lead at all times during music festivals. This is as much for the comfort of other festival goers as it is for your dog. Be aware that not everybody likes your dog in their space, and some people are allergic. Be diligent about keeping your dog from bothering others.
- A collapsible water bowl: One of the most important things you’ll need to keep track of while you have your dog with you at a festival is how much access to water they have. Keep your pup hydrated with a collapsible water bowl to prevent sudden illness like heatstroke, especially in music festivals that perform in hot summer weather.
- Pop-up sunshade: If you’re planning on staying out at a music festival for long hours, consider investing in a pop-up sunshade. This will give you and your dog some much-needed cool if you start to get overheated at a festival.
- Doggie bags: If you bring your dog out in public to a music festival, be sure to bring some disposable doggie bags to take care of any calls of nature that might occur while you’re out.
Making sure that you have everything you need for your dog is important. However, you’ll also need to be sure that your dog has the right temperament to handle a music festival. If your dog is shy around strangers, nervous around other dogs, or sensitive to loud noises, consider leaving them at home.
Music Festivals Are Fun For Dogs With Proper Planning
Music festivals aren’t always the best place for dogs, but they can fit in right at home with music festivals designed around them. The festivals in the guide above provide some of the most relaxed gatherings across the US. They’re the perfect place to catch some great live music with your best furry friend at your side!
