The Maine Wienerfest (Belfast, ME)

Maine Wienerfest 2026 in downtown Belfast, Maine!

A waterfront festival celebrating dachshunds and the people who love them.

Calling all dachshunds—and everyone who cannot resist them! Maine Wienerfest 2026 returns to Steamboat Landing Park in downtown Belfast, Maine, on Sunday, September 13, 2026. This annual Maine dachshund festival brings wiener dogs, families and dog lovers together for an afternoon of races, costumes, vendors, food and four-legged fun beside Penobscot Bay. This event takes place the Sunday after Labor Day annually.

Festival favorites include the Grand Parade of Dachshunds, the Canine Costume Contest and the fast-paced Doxie Distance Dash. Visitors can also browse pet-related vendor booths, enter raffles, shop for Maine Wienerfest merchandise and meet dachshund owners from around New England.

Maine Wienerfest is hosted by PAWS Animal Adoption Center, a nonprofit animal shelter that has served Maine’s Midcoast communities for more than 50 years.

Maine Wienerfest 2026 event details

Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
Festival hours: 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Gates open: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Steamboat Landing Park
Address: 34 Commercial Street, Belfast, Maine 04915
Admission: Free; donations are encouraged
Weather: Rain or shine
Host: PAWS Animal Adoption Center

Visit the official Maine Wienerfest website for the latest schedule, competition registration details and event updates.

Maine Wienerfest activities

Grand Parade of Dachshunds

One of the most anticipated moments of the festival is the Grand Parade of Dachshunds. Wiener dogs and their people gather near the Belfast Boathouse before strutting around Steamboat Landing Park.

Expect short legs, big personalities and plenty of enthusiastic spectators as dachshunds of different ages, colors and coat types make their way around the waterfront.

Canine Costume Contest

Creative costumes transform dachshunds into superheroes, storybook characters, celebrities and imaginative creations. Festival judges select their favorites while the audience enjoys one of Maine Wienerfest’s funniest and most photogenic traditions.

Contest space may be limited. Dog owners interested in participating should consult the official festival website for current registration instructions.

Doxie Distance Dash

The Doxie Distance Dash gives dachshunds an opportunity to race for festival glory. Preliminary heats lead to the championship round, with competitors sprinting—or occasionally wandering—toward the finish line.

Advance or event-day registration requirements may apply. Check the official schedule before bringing a dog to compete.

Pet vendors, raffles and festival merchandise

Pet-related businesses and nonprofit organizations gather throughout the park with products, services and information for dogs and their families.

Visitors can also shop the Maine Wienerfest sales tent, purchase raffle tickets and find festival souvenirs commemorating Northern New England’s celebration of wiener dogs.

Food and treats

The festival traditionally includes a hot dog stand, an ice cream truck and other refreshments. Explore the event grounds, enjoy lunch near the water and leave time to visit Belfast’s downtown restaurants, cafés and specialty-food businesses.

Hosted by PAWS Animal Adoption Center

Maine Wienerfest began as an informal picnic for families who shared their lives with dachshunds. As more dogs and dog lovers joined the gathering, it grew into a full community festival.

Today, the event is hosted by PAWS Animal Adoption Center, a nonprofit shelter serving the Midcoast Maine community. Donations collected during Maine Wienerfest help support the organization’s work with homeless and displaced animals.

Visiting with your dog

Dogs should be comfortable in a busy outdoor environment with crowds, unfamiliar people and many other animals. Owners should bring:

• A secure, non-retractable leash
• Water and a portable bowl
• Waste bags
• Weather-appropriate supplies
• Any medication or comfort items their dog may need

Keep dogs under control, provide space between animals and follow all posted festival requirements. Review the official event rules before attending or registering for a competition.

Parking and accessibility

Accessible parking will be marked near the Belfast Boathouse. Additional public parking is available within walking distance of Steamboat Landing Park.

Because parking close to the waterfront may fill quickly, visitors should arrive early and allow time to walk from downtown. Review the festival’s parking information before traveling.

Make it a day in downtown Belfast

Maine Wienerfest takes place a short walk from Belfast’s historic Main Street, working waterfront and Harbor Walk. Arrive early for breakfast, stay for dinner or explore downtown after the festival.

Belfast offers independent shops, bookstores, galleries, restaurants, cafés and local food markets. Visitors can also walk the waterfront, explore the Belfast Rail Trail or visit the Belfast Dog Park.

Discover more places to eat, shop and explore with the Main Street Maine guide to Belfast.

Plan your visit to Maine Wienerfest

Celebrate dachshunds, support animal welfare and enjoy a memorable September afternoon on the Belfast waterfront.

Sunday, September 13, 2026
11 a.m.–3 p.m.; gates open at 10:30 a.m.
Steamboat Landing Park, 34 Commercial Street, Belfast, Maine

Visit the official Maine Wienerfest website for the latest information.