NWA’s Favorite Dog Race Is Back and This Year It’s Got a Hairy Pawter Theme

Twenty-one years in, and this race is still one of the best things you can do in NWA every fall. Dachshunds and corgis hit the track, the costumes get more creative, and once you’ve seen it, you’ll understand why people keep coming back. This year brings a new venue and a theme worth planning your outfit around.

THE DEETS

New Digs, Same Energy

This year you’re heading to Barksdale South, the former golf course just north of Allen’s Foods and Sugar Creek Shopping Center in Bella Vista. It’s a new home for the race with plenty of room to spread out and take it all in.

Hairy Pawter and the Goblet of Bark

The 2026 theme is Hairy Pawter. Wizard hats, tiny capes, wands. Bring it. The costume contest is open to all breeds, so your dog doesn’t need to be a wiener or a corgi to compete.

What You Can Expect on Race Day

The main event is the Wiener vs. Corgi showdown, with race heats organized by breed and age leading up to the semi-finals and the Grand Champion final. If your dog isn’t a wiener or a corgi, they can still get in on the action through the Wanna-Be a Wiener/Corgi Races.

Beyond the racing, your day includes an Opening Parade of Royalty, where the dogs who raised the most donations lead the pack. The king and queen of the day take home a prize. You’ll also get the Costume Contest, the Musical Sit Competition, and a Canine CPR Demonstration that’s worth sticking around for. K9 demonstrations, pet vendors, local food trucks, door prize raffles, and giveaways round out the rest of the afternoon.

A Good Cause Behind the Fun

All proceeds go to the Bella Vista Animal Shelter, which has been serving NWA for over 40 years. Get your racer registered and we’ll see you at the starting line on October 3.