Dachtoberfest at Sunshine Ridge Farms: A Tail-Wagging Good Time
Tension was in the air, as were dozens of wagging tales, for the second annual Dachtoberfest, a running of the weiner hounds, held on October 5, at Sunshine Ridge Farms Winery in Gainesville, organized by the wonderful folks at DMV Weens.
I was there with my puppy, Buddy, who proudly represented the “under-one” division in the second puppy heat. Picture a field full of sausage dogs, barking, wiggling, and wriggling with anticipation—while dozens of humans cheered from the sidelines. When the race whistle blew, Buddy (along with most of the puppies) didn’t budge from the start line, completely overwhelmed by the chaos. Eventually, I had to resort to luring him down the course with treats.
The event featured a number of heats, including the mixed-dachshund races (where I spotted a few adorable chiweenies and some corgi-like “mystery mixes”), a heat for senior dogs, and finally the adult dachshunds, who were hands-down the speed demons of the day. The winning weiners trotted home with shiny trophies and prizes from Sassy Woof, while their human companions toasted with complimentary mimosas.
Sunshine Ridge Farms Winery provided the perfect setting for the event, overlooking Lake Manassas, offering sweeping views, crisp autumn air, and plenty of room for dogs to socialize (and humans to sip).
We’ll definitely be back next year. Buddy’s already in “training” for the 2026 race—because next time, we’re aiming for the podium.
