The first Oktoberfest took place in 1810 in Munich, Germany as a two-day party to celebrate a royal wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. More than 200 years later, the event has turned into a global phenomenon with revelers enjoying the best of German culture, from beer to brats and polka music.

In the U.S., Oktoberfest organizers have taken the liberty of adding new traditions you won’t find in Munich to this historic event. Perhaps the cutest of them all is wiener dog racing.

Known for their hotdog-like physique, dachshunds are a German breed that have been adopted into many Oktoberfest celebrations. While others, such as greyhounds, engage in highly competitive sport, wiener dog racing is meant to be a jovial activity strictly for enterta

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