Wienerfest...

Bevy of Dachshunds descend on Belfast

Mon, 09/16/2013 - 22:16

Erica Thoms

Scenes from the 10th annual Wienerfest in Belfast. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Participants navigate a muddy entrance. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

The Wienerfest parade begins. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Weinerfest parade collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

PAWS Animal Adoption Center brought two adoptable kittens, Ichabod and Ivan. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Some of the costumes on display at this year’s Wienerfest in Belfast. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Participants line up for the costume contest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Wienerfest costume contest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Some of the costume contest finalists witt the judges, upper left. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

A presentation showing how Dachshunds were originally bred to find rodents.(Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Children watch the costume contest. (Photo by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Scenes from the 10th annual Wienerfest in Belfast. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Participants navigate a muddy entrance. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

The Wienerfest parade begins. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Weinerfest parade collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

PAWS Animal Adoption Center brought two adoptable kittens, Ichabod and Ivan. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Some of the costumes on display at this year’s Wienerfest in Belfast. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Participants line up for the costume contest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Wienerfest costume contest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Some of the costume contest finalists witt the judges, upper left. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

A presentation showing how Dachshunds were originally bred to find rodents.(Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

Children watch the costume contest. (Photo by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

10th annual Wienerfest collage. (Photos by Erica Thoms)

BELFAST — Nearly 100 Dachshunds descended upon Belfast’s Steamboat Landing Park Sept. 8 to celebrate the 10^th annual Wienerfest. Some of the four-legged participants traveled from as far away as Germany to show the crowd their costumes and revel in a day of compliments.

Gates opened at 11 a.m. as a steady stream of Dachshunds made their way into the park, but the real festivities kicked off with a parade at noon. Led by Diane Mendes-Wood, who is the original founder of Wienerfest, a long line of stubby legs marched along the sidewalk, many wearing costumes, others electing to stick with a more traditional and understated bandana around the neck.

After the parade, the so called wiener-dogs were invited to enter into a costume contest. Just over 30 dogs paid the $1 (the price of frankfurter is some places) entry fee for a chance to have their costume reviewed by judges and the gathering crowd. The costumes varied widely, from an alligator-wiener to a caterpillar-wiener. One wiener sported a jetpack and another went on the wild side, and dresssed like a “poop factory.” Not to be outdone, there were even two geisha-wieners in the mix.

The owners happily showed off their dogs’ costumes, one trying in vain to get her dog, dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, to carry a tiny basketful of apples. “She usually always does it,” her owner could be overheard saying. “She must be nervous.”

After all the contestants had a chance to show off for the judges and spectators, there was a brief break as the three officials compared notes in order to choose the top five contenders. One of the judges said the contestants are scored based on originality, presentation, appearance and crowd reaction.

The finalists included: Loki, dressed as the jetpack; Lily, a flower fairy; Jasmine and Juliette, wearing the geisha costumes; Legacy and Bear as the Cucumber Patch; and Cooper, the poop factory.

Ultimately it came down to an applause decided tie-breaker between Loki and Cooper, with Loki walking away with the big prize: bragging rights as the winner of 10^th annual Wienerfest Costume Contest.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com