FACTS, FIGURES AND FUN THINGS ABOUT WMDF

• Washington Metro DachtoberFest Foundation (WMDF) was created by a group of dachshund loving professionals in early 2013 upon learning that the organizers of the Mid Atlantic Dachshund Phest (MADP) had decided to end their 13 year annual festival run.

• MADP was held for 13 years on the First Saturday in October at the Prince William Fairgrounds in Manassas VA. WMDF continues the tradition by holding the Fest on the First Saturday October at the Frederick Fairgrounds in Frederick Maryland.

• Many volunteers from MADP now volunteer for WMDF.

• WMDF was created solely through social media networking on Facebook. WMDF has over 65 volunteers.

• Following the tradition of MADP, Fest organizers decided that the first Fest should be held on the First Saturday in October each year.

• In 2013, the Fest moved to the Frederick County Fair Grounds in Frederick, Maryland as it provided the best venue for the event.

• The inaugural Fest in 2013 exceeded expectations when just over 1000 dachshund lovers made it out to the fest with over 400 dachshunds in tow - organizers expected no more than 500 but secretly hoped for 750 in attendance.

• The 2013 Fest was a very HOT day. The mercury hit close to 90 degrees that first Saturday in October. 

• In 2014, WMDF entertained just over 1400 dachshund lovers and 600 dachshunds and dachshund wannabes.
  
• The 2015 Fest was originally scheduled for October 3, 2015 but was postponed due to  Hurricane Juaquin and rescheduled  to November 7.  Social media spread the word of the postponement resulting in the largest attended Fest ever with close to 2000 dachshund lovers and 35 vendors enjoying the event.

• In 2017 WMDF kicked off its 5 year celebration with a very successful Fest.  Over 1800 guests and over 650 dachshunds and dachshund wannabes in who were attendance enjoyed the dog show, races and costume parade that had over 100 entrants.  With over 40 vendors, exhibitors and rescues, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

• In 2018, WMDF expanded it's focus from Dachshunds to all long back breeds, striving to educate dog owners about responsible dog ownershp by raising awareness of various health issues and financial committments associated with pet ownership.  In 2018  Corgi races and corgi rescue where formally integrated into Fest and in 2019 the Fest's first Basset Boogie "stroll" was held with astounding success.

• Many dachshund rescues and other animal welfare organizations exhibit at The Fest.

• The Fest draws dachshund, corgi and other long dog lovers from over 21 states including Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Conneticut, Massachusetts, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska and Washington.

• As a result of the Covid-19 pandamic, an unprecidented number of large events were cancelled in 2020, including the 8th annual Fest in-person Festival.  Instead, WMDF is holding a virtual festival: WMDachtoberfest2020 Long Dog Festival, a Virtual Fundraising Event with an online auction, photos and video contests, WMDachtoberFest Online Store, WMDAchtoberFest2021 Calendar Contest and live stream programming running through the month of October.

• It is with deep sadness that WMDF must inform its loyal supporters, vendors, sponsors and friends near and far that Washinton Metor DachtoberFest Foundation will no longer be hosting its public festival, WMDachtoberFest.  This decision was not made lightly but with the changes in the world, the ability to continue is no longer possible.  We hope that each of you will remember with fondness all the wonderful times at the Fest we had together.  As one of our early Fest Themes said. "Dachshunds make me Happy".  Hold tight to those words and keep loving those long and lovely dogs.

• Washington Metro DachtoberFest, the largest long dog festival on the East Coast, was held the first Saturday in October every year at the Frederick County Fair Grounds in Frederick, Maryland continuing the treasured tradition of bringing dachshund lovers together to enjoy a day of family-oriented doxie fun.

• The Fest attracted over 2000 dog lovers from more than 20 states, mostly East of the Mississippi, from Maine to Florida with the highest concentration of Fest Fans haling from NOVA, DC and Maryland.  They were accompanied by close to 600 dachshunds and other long dog breeds.  Fest Fans enjoyed the Woofminster dog show, wiener races, costume parade and contest, blessing of the animals, Selfies with Santa, incredible raffles, Ask the Expert forums and shopping with over 35 vendors.

• Dog lovers  enjoyed educational discussions during the Fest. Our guest speakers included area veterinary and behavioral specialists who addressed many canine health issues common to the long-back breeds. In the past our guest speakers touched on intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), complete with discussions and demos on proactive preemptive care and prevention, various treatments including conservative crate rest and meds, alternative/holistic therapy, and surgery. General health issues common to all breeds, including weight management and oral hygiene, and behavior and training issues are also topics that our guest speakers have covered the the past.

Washington Metro DachtoberFest Foundation, Inc.

Mary Zahn, President

Kim Kwaitkowski, Vice President

Jeffrey Zahn, Treasurer

Sean Peyton, Secretary

Washington Metro DachtoberFest, the largest long dog festival on the East Coast, is held the first Saturday in October every year at the Frederick County Fair Grounds in Frederick, Maryland. It continues the treasured tradition of bringing dachshund lovers together to enjoy a day of family-oriented doxie fun. The Fest welcomes all well behaved pets.

The Fest attracts over 2000 dog lovers from more than 20 states, mostly East of the Mississippi, from Maine to Florida with the highest concentration of Fest Fans haling from NOVA, DC and Maryland.  They were accompanied by close to 600 dachshunds and other long dog breeds.  Fest Fans enjoyed the Woofminster dog show, wiener races, costume parade and contest, blessing of the animals, Selfies with Santa, incredible raffles, Ask the Expert forums and shopping with over 35 vendors.

Dog lovers can also enjoy educational discussions during the Fest. Our guest speakers include area veterinary and behavioral specialists who address many canine health issues common to the long-back breeds. In the past our guest speakers touched on intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), complete with discussions and demos on proactive preemptive care and prevention, various treatments including conservative crate rest and meds, alternative/holistic therapy, and surgery. General health issues common to all breeds, including weight management and oral hygiene, and behavior and training issues are also topics that our guest speakers have covered the the past.