The event, called “Short Dawgs in Da House,” marks the first time Ventura Harbor Village will host the viral pup Rowdy Dachshund, a professional skateboarding dog and champion racer with over 304,000 Instagram followers. The festival runs on April 18, from 10 am – 3 pm on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn.
Guests can enjoy a full day of small dog races and family-friendly activities, including:
- Dachshund, corgi, and small dog races
- Best trick and best outfit contests
- A harbor-wide scavenger hunt
- Live music and photo opportunities
- A community vendor village featuring pet accessories and treats
- Dog-friendly boat rentals in the harbor
“We are so excited to host our first-ever Rowdy Dachshund Festival at Ventura Harbor,” said Ivan Cano and Kim Estrada, Rowdy’s owners and event promoters. “Ventura is an incredibly pet-friendly town, and we can’t wait for dog lovers to enjoy Short Dawgs in Da House.”
Over 15 dog-friendly vendors will participate in the Community Vendor Village, and live music by Blake Quake with MC John Wick will keep the energy high throughout the day.
Pizzanista!, the official race sponsor, is a Southern California-based New York-style pizza shop founded by Skateboarding Hall of Famer Salman Agah.
“Rowdy the Dachshund has become part of the Ventura Harbor family and is the perfect ambassador for our pet-friendly Ventura Harbor Village,” said Brian Pendleton, Ventura Harbor Port District General Manager. “Short Dawgs in Da House is a great chance for residents and visitors to enjoy friendly dog competitions, seaside restaurants, retail shops, and harbor activities. At Ventura Harbor, anything is paws-ible!”
Rowdy is a longtime Ventura fan, having promoted the new Westpark Skatepark in a social media video with over 216,000 views and showcased Ventura Harbor’s pet-friendly boat rentals in a video with more than 117,000 views.
“We have all tails wagging to welcome Rowdy, her fans, and dog-lovers to Ventura’s first-ever Short Dawgs in Da House festival,” said Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura. “Rowdy has helped spotlight Ventura’s pet-friendly hotels, restaurants, and activities. Ventura is the perfect beach town to celebrate four-legged friends who love the beach as much as their humans.” www.venturaharborvillage.com/event/short-dawgs-in-da-house.
