Tenth Pugfest In Brooks Park Saturday

HARWICH – The 10th annual Pugfest live music event will kick off on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 5 p.m. in Brooks Park, so pack a picnic and bring a chair if you’re not planning to dance into the night.

The festival, organized by “Pugga” Routhier and DJ Thiele, was started as a way of bringing former Harwich High School classmates together for a cookout and good music.

That philosophy remains, but the event has turned into a fundraiser, with proceeds assisting the needs of the community. The event has raised tens of thousands of dollars for local charities such as The Family Pantry of Cape Cod and the Harwich Fund, which in turn contributes to many local nonprofits under the umbrella of The Cape Cod Foundation.

This year’s event will feature the premier local band The Boston Naturals, according to Thiele.

“We are hoping to cover their expenses before the event gets started,” he said. “Your donations are greatly appreciated.”

The live music fest in Brooks Park will continue to 10 p.m.