by Kirby Lindsay, posted 18 September 2013
The 2013 Fremont Oktoberfest (September 20th – 22nd) is “guaranteed to be epic,” according to organizers at Bold Hat Productions, and their President Phil Megenhardt. It also promises to be canine cute on Sunday, September 22nd when the whole festival takes on the mantle of ‘Dog-toberfest’.
“It’s the only day the dogs are allowed into the beer garden,” Megenhardt explained, “its fewer people – better for the dogs.” Dogs can enter the beer garden for free, on a leash and accompanied by a human, as well as participating in the 5K race Sunday morning. “We’re a dog city,” Megenhardt said, “Dog-toberfest allows the dogs to have fun, and lets the owners have fun. Everybody’s celebrating, even our four-legged friends!”
Find A Canine Cover Model
Another reason to celebrate – for dog lovers, dog owners and dog watchers – is the centerpiece of ‘Dog-toberfest’. The CityDog Magazine Cover Dog Model Search gives dogs, and their human counterparts, an excuse to get gussied up for a dog-friendly visit to Oktoberfest. “We usually get a turnout of 100 canine contestants,” explained Brandie Ahlgren, CityDog Founder. The regional magazine – distributed in Washington, Oregon and Northern California – focuses on lifestyle, with information on wellness, weekend get-aways and dog-centric activities like ‘Dog-toberfest.’
“We get repeats every year,” Ahlgren acknowledged, “We even had a dog enter this year that was on the cover last year.” Owners enjoy the contests, which CityDog held four times this year – at the PAWS Walk, West Seattle Thriftway Dog Days of Summer, Kirkland Uncorked and Oktoberfest – and might bring to the Fremont Fair in 2014. “They love to see their dog,” Ahlgren said, as CityDog will run the photos of all the registered contestants in its February issue. Owners also turn out, “to support a great event,” Ahlgren reported, “and it’s a good time out!”
Entry in the CityDog Model Search costs $10 per pooch, with all the money given to ‘Reading With Rover,’ a literacy program that gives children opportunities to read to a willing and accepting audiences – dogs! “I love the idea of what this program is doing,” explained Marie Moody, Founder and Chairman of Stella & Chewy’s –manufacturer of nutritious dinners and treats for dogs (and cats,) and sponsor of the Dog Model Search. For Moody, ‘Reading With Rover,’ “combines three things I love – children, dogs and reading. I love supporting causes that combine children and dogs.”
Winners
A fast growing company, Stella & Chewy’s has shown a generous commitment to philanthropy – giving away over $1million in product. Begun in her New York City apartment, in 2003, Moody moved her base of operations to a 50,000 square foot facility in Milwaukee when doing deliveries to the increasing number of independent specialty stores that carry her products could no longer be reasonably done by NYC cabs. Today, Stella & Chewy products can be purchased in 3,700 stores across the country, including Seattle.
The Stella & Chewy sales rep for this area, Jennifer Stevenson, connected Moody with CityDog, and sponsorship of the Model Search – and got Moody the enviable position of judge at this Sunday’s contest. Moody enjoys seeing the dogs, of course, but she wonders if she can pick only one… “They are all great,” she acknowledged, “Dogs teach us so much – about life, and about love, and even about loss…”
CityDog organized its first Cover Model Search at Oktoberfest in 2005, the same year Ahlgren launched the magazine. Yet, after doing this for eight years, Ahlgren still shares Moody’s thought, “My concern is that there can only be one winner.”
Dog Crazy?
Moody looks forward to seeing Fremont, and exploring our community of thriving independent businesses so like her own. When asked if Seattle’s reputation as a ‘dog city’ has preceeded us, she responded, “every city I’ve traveled to, there are people crazy for their dogs. You are an outdoor community, and out with your dogs,” she observed, which might be why we’re seen as dog friendly.
As for whether Seattleites enjoy their dogs more than elsewhere, “I don’t know yet,” she answered, “maybe you are more dog crazy than New York… I think it is a national trend,” Moody observed, “I’ve seen this level of commitment and love around the country.”
Come see the love and commitment – and show your own – at the CityDog Model Search on Sunday, September 22nd. “Dogs take the stage at 3p,” Ahlgren explained, with registration opening at 10a. Participants need to register at least half-an-hour before the contest so CityDog can match photos to names, but no registration is necessary for those who want to watch!
And Sunday at Oktoberfest has plenty of other activities to offer – the Street Scramble at 10:30a, the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving at 1p, and the Fremont Studios Sports Bar (21+, beer garden entry required) will be showing the Seahawks game at 1:25p. Purchase tickets to the epic 2013 Oktoberfest in advance, save $10, “and buy your dog a bone,” Megenhardt advised. After all, Dog-toberfest only happens once a year – enjoy it!
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©2013 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.