On your mark, get set... START YOUR WIENERS! 🐕💨

Hold on to your lederhosen, because the highly anticipated Wurst Dog Derby is back for its second year of wiener-racing action in Southeast Minnesota!

Imagine a parade of pint-sized, determined dachshunds zooming down the track, ears flapping in the wind, all for a chance to be crowned the fastest wiener in the Midwest!

Kasson Oktoberfest 2024 featuring the 2nd annual Wurst Dog Derby

The 2024 Wurst Dog Derby will take place at the Zumbro Valley Golf Course in Mantorville on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM to kick off the Kasson Chamber of Commerce annual Oktoberfest celebration.

The organizers of Kasson’s Wurst Dog Derby are on the hunt for the speediest little sausages around—and they’re calling on all wiener dog owners to sign up their furry contenders!

Aaron Galloway/Townsquare Media
Aaron Galloway/Townsquare Media
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Whether your dachshund is a seasoned sprinter or just loves to show off those stubby legs, this is the perfect chance to let them shine, and with only 25 spots available, the race to register is almost as fierce as the derby itself! Use the button below to get your wiener dog entered into the competition.

The derby is free to enter and attend, but donations to the Small Dog Rescue of Minnesota are greatly appreciated. This year's race will once again be called by celebrity announcer Curt St. John with Quick Country 96.5.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and best-dressed dog (participation in best dressed is optional), along with gifts for all participating dogs.

Here's a look at the action from the inaugural Wurst Dog Derby last year:

The fun doesn’t stop with the Wurst Dog Derby!

Kasson’s Oktoberfest has a whole lineup of exciting events planned for the same day - September 28th.

Starting at 1:30, once the dachshunds have dashed to the finish, you can stroll down to Main Street in downtown Kasson for a jam-packed afternoon.

Get crafty at the vendor market, cheer on the parachuting hot dogs, watch the llamas test their skills in the Llama obstacle course, try your hand at tire flipping, or hop into a potato sack race.

Meet Celebrity Dachshunds Tug & Tuke!

There will also be a special celebrity dachshund book signing at The Studio Events where you can meet Tug & Tuke -- who will both also be racing in the derby at the golf course! The first 50 kids will get a free book! Coloring pages and stickers will also be handed out to the kiddos.

tug and tuke book signing kasson oktoberfest 2024
Tug and Tuke book, coloring page, and stickers
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With Rookie the Clown, a scavenger hunt, live music from the Brass Quintet Band, and endless treats like German chocolate cake, root beer floats, and pretzel necklaces, there’s something for everyone. And don’t miss out on the bingo and a chance to spot Bigfoot! It’s a day full of quirky fun, perfect for the whole family.

SEE ALSO: 50 of the Most Amazing Places and Things to See in Minnesota

The festivities keep rolling with a Fun Run (complete with beer) at 4 pm, followed by a sauerkraut eating contest at 5 pm, and then the excitement continues with a pub crawl kicking off at 6 pm.

You might even get to meet celebrity Great Dane Minnesota Moose wandering around town!

Minnesota Moose the Great Dane
Minnesota Moose the Great Dane
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LOOK: Longest-living dog breeds

To find out the longest-living dog breeds, Stacker examined data from the journal Genetics and American Kennel Club's 2023 breed popularity rankings. 

Gallery Credit: Sophia June