For the past four years now, the Wüffstock Festival has been an annual occurrence that dog owners and dogs alike look forward to. 

Hosted by the Roice-Hurst Humane Society (RHHS), Wüffstock was put on Sept. 8, at Lincoln Park. The festival brought Grand Junction pet owners and their canine companions together to enjoy live music, food trucks and a chance for dogs to swim at Lincoln Park.

RHHS Director Anna Stout, who coordinated Wüffstock, feels that the premise behind the festival is to celebrate man’s best friend while enjoying the best of the western slope.

“The whole point [of Wüffstock] is to give people a place where they can do the things that makes Grand Junction so fun, with their dog,” Stout said. “People like to listen to live music, go out for drinks and good food, but few places in the valley let you bring your dog. 

“So, Wüffstock is the best of both worlds. You can enjoy all those awesome things, but you don’t have to leave your pup at home to do so.”

The event has also grown substantially since its debut in Grand Junction four years ago. In its first year, it was a smaller venue held at the botanical gardens and only played local music. This year, Wüffstock was held at Lincoln Park, and drew in Denver-based bands for the first time.

Besides the live music, dog swimming, and food trucks, the Humane Society brings between six and ten shelter dogs that are put up for adoption at the festival. However, only a fraction of these dogs presented at Wüffstock are actually adopted at the event. 

Stout has been directing the festival every year since it first came to Grand Junction. “The event is put on by the Humane Society, but the point of the festival isn’t to promote adoption or anything. Wüffstock’s goal is simply to encourage the bonds between people and their pets.

 “We just want people to have a fun night with their dog by their side, not left at home.”