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Woof 'n' Wag Humane society's Woofstock draws a crowd and helps pay for programs
A DAY IN THE PARK: MUSIC, FUN AND, OF COURSE, FOOD
Journal photos by Lauren Carroll
David Brown of Clemmons plays with his English mastiff, Bailey, at Woofstock in Tanglewood Park in Clemmons.
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Click here to see a gallery of imagesPublished: August 30, 2009
CLEMMONS
ith a black and white bandana wrapped around his neck, Nicoh, a German pinscher mix, stretched out on a blanket while owner Christine Schlipp scratched under his chin.
Nearby Schlipp's other dog, Reagan, an English setter, stood cooling off in a small children's pool, glancing around at all the festivities taking place at Woofstock, a Forsyth Humane Society fundraiser held yesterday at Tanglewood Park.
Schlipp came to Woofstock with her stepdaughter, Amber, and two of their six dogs from their home in the Wilmington area.
"It's a neat idea," Amber said. "It's fun."
Schlipp said she and Amber are volunteers for the Pender County Humane Society that puts on a similar event and wanted to show their support.
Woofstock, the Forsyth Humane Society's newest money-raising project, was held yesterday and last night in the amphitheater stage area at Tanglewood.
The event featured performances by 12 bands in a range of musical genres including blues, rock, reggae, soul and country.
There were also about 15 vendors set up, selling food, beverages, apparel and other wares.
Karen Braswell, the executive director of the Forsyth Humane Society, said that the nonprofit organization hopes to make Woofstock an annual event.
The idea for the Woofstock name, she said, came from the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, the iconic 1969 music festival.
Money from yesterday's fundraiser will be used to operate the humane society's "no-kill" shelter and its various programs to help cats and dogs, including sick or injured pets of low-income families.
Braswell said that in this down economy the humane society needed fundraisers such as Woofstock because people aren't donating as much money as they used to.
"People are watching their dollars and don't have as much to share with nonprofits," she said.
The event was also intended to help educate folks about the humane society's programs, she said,
Ticket prices for kids and adults ranged from $10 to $25.
There were about 300 people at Woofstock yesterday afternoon, but organizers were hoping for at least 1,000 people to attend by the time it ended at 11 p.m.
Several people called Woofstock both a fun and worthy event.
David Brown of Clemmons and his 150-pound English mastiff, Bailey, sat up front in the grass at the amphitheater, listening to one band after the other.
Brown said he liked the festival's eclectic lineup of music, which featured something for everybody.
As he talked, Bailey walked over to the couple behind them for a pat on the head.
"She doesn't want your love," Brown said. "She wants your food."
Friends Lisa Hinson and Erica Jernigan of Winston-Salem decided not to bring their dogs because of yesterday's hot and mostly sunny weather, with high temperatures in the mid-80s.
However, they still enjoyed listening to the music and watching other people's dogs -- especially the ones playing in the water.
"Dog people love other dogs," Hinson said.
■ Fran Daniel can be reached at 727-7366 or at fdaniel@wsjournal.com
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