It's the kind of quirky event that's helping bring a taste of Germany to the Lehigh Valley through the festival, which continues Friday through Sunday at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.
“Even if you aren’t a dog person, it’s fun to see them run with their little legs and long bodies,” said Maureen Peare, of Jersey City. Her 5-month-old miniature dachshund, Jezebel, stopped mid-race and began looking around at the crowd of an estimated 500 spectators.
Watson also bested the other dogs in nearly all 10 heats, which narrowed down the pool from 30 to eight to six, four, two and finally, the grand champion. His prize after defeating second-place winner, Charlie Black, was a cake in the shape of his breed with a first-place sticker on it.
The dogs had to run from one family member 50 feet to the finish line, where another family member was waiting and calling.
“I tried to evoke separation anxiety to get him to his mom on the other end,” said Watson’s owner, Justin Guthier, of Coopersburg, about his strategy with his wife, Lindsay Guthier.
Runners-up received dog treat boxes and first-place winners in the top six other heats also received similar cakes at the festival.
Judy and Mike Zumas, of Mertztown, Berks County, said today might have been the final race for Charlie Black, age 5. The dog has competed since the festival began three years ago, coming in third place the past two years.
“He did good,” Judy Zumas said. “We’re proud of him.”
Nipper, age 2, came in third place in the top six, thanks to high-energy prompting over the finish line by owners Jackie and Ron Henderson and their daughter, Madie, all of Macungie. The family said no training was needed, noting he’s full of energy.
ArtsQuest staff said the Dachshund Races, authentic to similar competitions in Germany, are one of the biggest draws each year.
“It’s been a growing event every year with more wiener dogs participating,” said ArtsQuest event staff member Amber Walters.
While exact attendance figures weren’t available today, Kassie Hilgert, senior vice president of ArtsQuest, said the 2013 Oktoberbest's first weekend drew 1,600 people alone to the Ultimate Bingo Bash event. She said food and beverage figures increased over last year and the ArtsQuest Glass Studio exceeded sales from last year.
Crowds flocked to the Authentic Ceremonial Oktoberfest Keg Tap with Dick Yuengling on Friday night as well as the Bar Skills Challenge on Saturday night. Hilgert expects next weekend’s draw to be the Celebrity Skills Challenge, in which patrons will be paired with such contestants as the Lehigh University women's basketball team, employees of The Express-Times and Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan.
Patrons today said they came for the refillable beer mugs, live music and authentic German cuisine, including bratwurst, beef goulash, strudel and potato pancakes. Bethlehem Dairy Store was featuring Oktoberfest chocolate ice cream, which included dark chocolate ice cream with a touch of Yuengling Black & Tan.
(The Express Times - Oct 6, 2013)
Related stories:
- New York: Gordon favored in the Wiener Dog races set for Sunday at Batavia Downs
- Indiana: Wienerdogs run for the gold - or treats - at Germanfest
No comments:
Post a Comment