When the temperatures dip below the 90s, Houstonians can start to smell the promise of fall in the air—and fall means it’s festival time in Houston. While the days may still be warm, the weather is pleasant enough for outdoor fun and friskiness. This fall, nothing is friskier than the weiner dog races at Karbach Brewing Company’s annual Karbachtoberfest.
Returning to Karbach Brewing this year, Karbachtoberfest 2025 is a free-to-attend, three weekend-long event, kicking off September 19-21, and continuing on September 26-28 and October 3-5 weekends. The indoor-outdoor festival first began in Houston back in 2011, and is inspired by the Bavarian Octoberfest, which originated as a celebration for King Ludwig’s wedding in 1810. The lively spirit of Oktoberfest has since spread across the world and become a yearly event for lovers of beer, music, and food. For Houstonians, Karbach Brewing’s festivities have become a highly-anticipated, longstanding tradition.
During this time, Karbach Brewing brings out seasonal brews like Karbachtoberfest, an authentic Bavarian-style Marzen that is only available August through October, and showcases German bier-friendly foods like pretzels, sausages, and schnitzel. It’s also a time to spotlight Houston’s fastest dachshunds, aka weiner dogs. Hailing from Germany, the feisty dachshund is the perfect mascot for the festival, and the Karbachtoberfest weiner dog races aptly showcase how the short-legged pups pair speed with undeniable cuteness.
Each Sunday of Karbachtoberfest, weiner dog races ensue with entries open to the general public. Festival-goers and their dachshunds—or dachshund mixes—are encouraged to participate in the races and can enter online with a $6 fee per pet, per race. All of the proceeds from the races go to the Dachshund Rescue of Houston, which serves abandoned and unhomed dachshunds, rehoming them with loving families searching for a short-legged companion.
Karbachtoberfest is a wonderful time to get your fill of weiner dog races, as there are five races per hour, with a maximum of 20 held on each Sunday. One winner is crowned each weekend, with the winning waggles receiving a trophy and a basket full of dog treats and toys.
For those who can’t get enough sausage during the races, Karbach has bratwurst plates and boards, plus pretzels, pork schnitzel and Zee Rueben to enjoy to your heart’s content. Pair with the special Karbachtoberfest beer, or one of the brewery’s popular IPAs or German-style brews like Zeigen Bock, and bask in full Octoberfest glory.
While Karbach’s beloved weiner dog races are a major draw for the festival, there is plenty more fun and general merry-making to be had. Along with beer, beer, and more beer, attendees can expect live DJs and stein hoisting during the day and live music acts by evening. This year’s featured performers include Sugar Joiko & JoiLux Band, fronted by a dynamic female performer who will be belting out all the best hits of the 90s, starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, September 27. Expect tunes from TLC, Selena, NSYNC, and Blink 182. Houston’s boundary-breaking trio, Lucid Illusions, will deliver a gritty and intense rock set on Saturday, October 4 from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
Prost!
Karbach Brewing Company, 2032 Karbach St., Houston, karbachbrewing.com
