Are you ready to dedicate a whole day to one of the longest, lowest and cutest animals on the planet? If so, set aside July 6 for the Penrith Dachshund Festival.
This all started when event manager Chris Boswell noticed an influx of dachshunds at Dogs Day Out events.
“Dachshunds are very timid, so we decided to create a special event for them. It’s blown up and become bigger and bigger,” Boswell explained.
“It’s a bit more social for them and we bring in specific dachshund stores, so they have their own merchandise.”
On the day, there will be live entertainment, food trucks, market stalls, and epic sausage dog competitions, including the Dachshund Derby.
“The race involves 10 dogs in each heat competing for the grand title at the end of the day,” Boswell stated.
“At the end of the 10 heats, there will be a grand finale, and the top 10 winners will battle it out for first, second or third place.
“From there, the grand champions will be invited to go into the Nationals Dogs Day Out Championship in September.”
The adorable day also supports good causes.
“We like to have a local vet come in and support us to get the education out there. A lot of people buy dachshunds and don’t realise they need to be careful of their backs,” Boswell stressed.
“We’re seeing a lot of dachshunds being surrendered because of the cost of living. The vet bills are hurting people.”
Wiener Crew Rescue will attend the event to educate pet owners on how to care for their pups and the insurances they require.
The event will also welcome vulnerable young people turning their lives around.
“We support RuffTRACK’s which helps kids that have gotten themselves into a little bit of trouble,” Boswell said.
“We’re getting them rehabilitated with dogs. They’ll come out and support us on the day and learn valuable skills.”
Join the fun at Penrith Paceway from 10am to 3pm on July 6. Entry to the venue is $2 and there are small fees to participate in competitions.
Find out more online at events.humanitix.com/penrith-dachshund-festival-2025.
Ally Hall
Ally Hall joined the Weekender in 2024, and focuses on entertainment and community stories. She's a graduate of the University of South Australia and has previously worked as a Video Journalist with Southern Cross Austereo and as a News Reader with Australian Radio Network.