Dogged Determination

Expanded Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

• Thursday, Sep. 16, 5 p.m.– midnight

• Friday, Sep. 17, 11 a.m–midnight

• Saturday, Sep. 18, 11 a.m.–midnight

• Sunday, Sep. 19, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Learn more at www.OktoberfestZinzinnati.com.

The Running of the Wieners ist back at Oktoberfest Zinzinnati, Thursday, Sep. 16, at 11 a.m. The Downtown Zinzinnati tradition will again feature 100 dachshunds racing on Freedom Way at The Banks, between Walnut and Rosa Parks Streets. Each dog will wear its provided hot dog bun costume while running approximately 75 feet, in heats of ten, to its owner waiting at the finish line. The winners from each heat will compete in a final race to determine the winning wiener!

Photos by Shae Combs

Photos by Shae Combs

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Wiener dog, Maple, crosses the finish line in the final heat of the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Jake and Lorene Sander hold Maple after the pup wins the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Jake and Lorene Sander hold Maple after the pup wins the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Owner Jake Sander holds Maple after the pup wins the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Owner Jake Sander holds Maple after the pup wins the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

Quintin White, with Leo, Gary Sprague with Buddy, and Jake and Lorene Sander with Maple are the top dogs of the annual Running of the Wieners in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

The annual Running of the Wieners kicks off Oktoberfest Zinzinnati with around 90 Dachshunds racing down Freedom Way in Cincinnati, Ohio on Thursday, September 19, 2019.

“Oktoberfest Zinzinnati is expanding to open on Thursday in 2021 and we’re kicking it off in our meaner, cleaner wiener arena,” said Cynthia Oxley, director of Oktoberfest Zinzinnati.

Prizes will be awarded to the first, second and third place dachshunds. Each owner will be provided an official Oktoberfest Zinzinnati Running of the Wieners 2021 t-shirt. Entry fee is $35. The event is free for spectators.

Registration, rules and complete details for the Running of the Wieners are now available at link. Oktoberfest Zinzinnati®, presented by Samuel Adams, will now open one day earlier and stay open one hour later, Thursday evening, Sep. 16 through Sunday, Sep. 19.

Along with the 400 legs of the racing dachshunds, spread out across 10 heats, the numbers for the rest of Oktoberfest are just as impressive.

87,542 metts
64,000 sauerkraut balls
24,640 potato pancakes
20,000 cream puffs
6,000 jumbo pickles
1,875 lbs. German potato salad
700 pigtails 80,500 bratwurst
56,250 sausages
23,004 soft pretzels
16,002 strudel
3,600 lbs. sauerkraut
702 lbs. Limburger cheese
400 pickled pigs feet