“See that crowd? Who let the dogs out?”

Those words made perfect sense backstage at the 2007 Evangeline Bluegrass and Traditional Music Festival from July 13-15 at the Exhibition Grounds in Abrams Village on Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Hundreds of music fans arrived in RVs (recreational vehicles, homes on wheels) that they parked within strolling distance of the stage. Their dogs – big or small, black, white, brown or gray, furry or closely clipped -- rode along.

“A lot of festivals ban dogs, but we don’t mind them,” said Robert Arsenault, one of the musicians. “In fact, we enjoy having them here, assuming they’re well behaved.”

As people relaxed near the outdoor stage, so did many of the pooches, invariably leashed to their humans. As people swayed to the music, the dogs wagged their tails.

Among the rows of RVs, other dogs rested, tethered in the shade. Inside some of the vehicles, canines bounced on the furniture to peer out the windows.

Pleased to see the fanged music fans, I stopped to shake paws and meet many of them. They had names like Rosie, Muffie and Choco.

Something else became obvious too. The music aficionados hold powerful senses of humor, judging by the bumper stickers plastered to their RVs.

“Don’t drink and drive,” said one bumper sticker. “You might hit a bump and spill your drink.”

“I started with nothing and still have most of it left,” bragged another.

Some alluded to the dogs: “Wife and dog missing. Reward for dog.”

Onstage, impressive bands, with names like Bluestreak, Wildwood, the Crunchy Western Boys, Driftwood Harmony and the Bluegrass Diamonds, performed admirably.

Some listeners sang along. Did I really hear extra howls on the choruses? Instead of applauding, certain fans gladly raised the woof.


Festival music has the folks dancing.


'Back off or I'll flush!'
RV exteriors read like joke books.


Dog references appear in the bumper stickers.


Halt! Dogs guard homes-on-wheels too.

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