Nashville's original social dog place to play & stay!
NASHVILLE, TN, October 5 — While the Wiener Dog Races are reserved for dachshunds and doxie mixes, dogs of every age and size are invited to dress up or march “naked” in Nashville Oktoberfest’s 10th Annual Pup Parade, sponsored by EarthWise Pet. Pups and their people compete for prizes, including dinner for two at a Germantown restaurant and a $100 gift certificate to Red Rover Pet Services — Dog Daycare & Boarding. The Pup Parade brings up the tail end of the festival’s grand parade on Saturday, October 13, at 1 p.m. Registration is open now: https://thenashvilleoktoberfest.com/pup-parade/.
Parade Prizes will be awarded for Best German Costume; Best Costume Theme: Handler and Dog; Best “Naked” Dog (leash required); and People’s Choice. To compete for the People’s Choice Award, register online first and then email a photo of the registered dog to care@redrovercomeover.com no later than 6:00 p.m., Friday, October 12, 2018.
The 5th Annual Dachshund Derby takes place on Sunday, October 14, at 3 p.m. at the north end of the Bicentennial Mall. Each category will be awarded bronze, silver, and gold medals. Categories are Puppy, Miniature, Standard, Senior, and Doxie Mixes. Gold medal winners will receive dinner for two to Von Elrod’s, the 2017 and 2018 sponsor of the Wiener Dog Races. Register online through Saturday, October 13, at 10 p.m. or until the first 150 dogs have registered: https://thenashvilleoktoberfest.com/dachshund-derby/dachshund-derby-registration/.
The Pup Parade and the Dachshund Derby both benefit Crossroads Campus, a locally owned Germantown non-profit that believes in the healing power of human-animal relationships. Crossroads helps rescue abandoned animals find forever homes, and they help young people who are facing adversity find mentoring and job skills. “We enthusiastically support Crossroads’ mission, sending our customers to them for pet supplies, grooming, and pet adoptions,” says Heidi of Red Rover. “The healing they bring to our community is profoundly powerful, and we love being able to support them at Oktoberfest in a really fun way.”
The festival is free to attend, but dog owners must register to compete for the Pup Parade and Dachshund Derby prizes. Cost is $25 per dog for each event in advance. To register on the day of the parade ($30), go to the Red Rover Pet Services tent on Jefferson Street between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. The parade forms at 5th Ave N and Harrison Street at 12:30 p.m. and begins at 1 p.m. Registrants will receive a swag bag and event T-shirt while supplies last. All proceeds from registration fees benefit Crossroads Campus: https://crossroadscampus.org.
Red Rover Pet Services introduced activities for people and their dogs 10 years ago at Oktoberfest in Historic Germantown neighborhood in Nashville. The manager, Heidi Dixner, says, “Our group dog day care and boarding service for social dogs was located in Germantown for five years, where Von Elrod’s is today.” Red Rover Pet Services is dedicated to making “DOGtoberfest” happen for pups and their people who come out in droves, dressed up and ready for the parade and excited about the races.
More festival information can be found at https://thenashvilleoktoberfest.com/:
Over a quarter of a million people will attend the 39th Annual Nashville Oktoberfest, which spans 10 city blocks. Oktoberfest features German foods from dozens of restaurants and vendors, world-class beer from local breweries, stages of live German music, arts and crafts tents, kid-friendly activities, the Dachshund Derby, an enormous parade—including the Pup Parade—and the second largest 5K Race & Run in Tennessee … plus so much more!
Festival dates are Oct. 11-14. Hours are Thursday, Oct. 11, 5-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
For more information about DOGtoberfest, contact Red Rover Pet Services at:
615-227-7709 x1
Founded by a professional trainer in 2004, Red Rover Pet Services LLC is Nashville’s first professional group dog daycare and dog boarding service for social dogs. We give your social dog the gift of play while you’re away, whether at work or on vacation. https://redrovercomeover.com/
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