Short legs, big competition at Marietta’s Dachshund Derby
Megan Lang smiles as Beans, the dachshund, races during the third annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Alexis Early holds back Moxie, the dachshund, prior to the start of their race during Marietta Main Street's Third Annual Dachshund Derby. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Becky Bolon takes a walk with Abby prior to the start of the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Prior to the start of the races for the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby, the pups were paraded through the Marietta bike path. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Dachshunds take off from the starting line during one of the races at Marietta Main Street's Dachshund Derby Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Though Sully, right, came in last during the race, Debbie Fitzgerald still rewarded Sully with a treat. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Pet parents and race attendees cheer on the finalists in the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Gracie Potter encourages Benny to perform a trick during the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Megan Lang smiles as Beans, the dachshund, races during the third annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Alexis Early holds back Moxie, the dachshund, prior to the start of their race during Marietta Main Street's Third Annual Dachshund Derby. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Becky Bolon takes a walk with Abby prior to the start of the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Prior to the start of the races for the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby, the pups were paraded through the Marietta bike path. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Dachshunds take off from the starting line during one of the races at Marietta Main Street's Dachshund Derby Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Though Sully, right, came in last during the race, Debbie Fitzgerald still rewarded Sully with a treat. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Pet parents and race attendees cheer on the finalists in the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Gracie Potter encourages Benny to perform a trick during the Third Annual Marietta Main Street Dachshund Derby. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
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MARIETTA -- Dachshunds and their owners gathered downtown for Marietta Main Street's third annual Dachshund Derby, bringing together races, costumes and contests while raising money for the organization.
Frank, owned by Mitchell and Liz Eddleblute, won the races. Other winners were Gerald for longest ears, Otto for longest weenie, Cece for best costume, Frankie for oldest weenie and Pebbles for best trick.
The event included contest stops at downtown businesses, a group parade walk along the bike path and races divided by the dogs' ages, said Kaitlin Streator, Marietta Main Street board president. All proceeds support the organization.
The contest stops encouraged participants to explore downtown businesses, while the activities gave people a reason to gather, whether they brought a dog or simply came to watch.
Streator said even people without dogs attend to spend time with the community and see the animals dressed in costumes.
For Becky Bolon, the derby offered a chance to take part in an event she had wanted to attend for years. Her sons' football games and other commitments had previously kept her family from participating.
Now in her first year as an empty nester, Bolon said she had time to make the outing with Abby, a rescue dog her family adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
"We've been wanting to do this for like the past couple years," Bolon said.
Bolon estimated Abby is about 14, although the family does not know her exact age.
Streator said one of her favorite parts of organizing the derby is learning where participants come from. Some visitors discover the event and build a weekend trip around it, she said.
"It's so cool to talk to people that are coming from out of town," Streator said.
She said those visits also provide opportunities for participants to explore other businesses during their stay.
Beyond supporting Main Street, Streator said she hopes the derby helps residents appreciate the activities available in the Mid-Ohio Valley and the people who organize them.
"We have good people that live in our town that want to put together events like this," she said.