Germantown Festival: dates, free shuttles, Running of the Weenies

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Dates, hours, parking and shuttles come from the Germantown Festival’s website. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The Germantown Festival is the city’s big free weekend each September. The 53rd festival ran Saturday, Sept. 12, and Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, at the Germantown Civic Club Complex, 7745 Poplar Pike. The organizer calls it one of the longest continuously run festivals in the area. The 2027 dates had not been posted by Oct. 17, 2026; this page will carry them when they are.

Know before you go

• 2027 dates: not announced yet. 2026 was Sept. 12-13, the weekend after Labor Day.
• Hours (2026): Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday noon to 6 p.m.
• Where: Germantown Civic Club Complex, 7745 Poplar Pike
• Cost: free admission, free parking, free shuttle buses
• Rain: held rain or shine
• Questions: 901-757-9212
• Official site: germantownfest.com

When it is

The festival is a two-day weekend in September. In 2026 it was Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, from noon to 6 p.m., and the organizer says it is held rain or shine. It is run by The Germantown Festival Inc., whose mission is a family weekend for Germantown and nearby towns and a way for local groups to raise money.

What is there

The organizer’s festival page lists:

• Arts and crafts: nearly 400 local and regional artists and craftsmen selling jewelry, pottery, metal, woodwork, hand-stitched clothes, paintings, photography, purses and garden pieces.
• Food: civic and nonprofit groups sell festival food, from corn dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes to catfish, brats and barbecue. The food court is limited to 22 vendor spaces.
• Kids Zone: rock climbing walls, bungee jumps, inflatable moonwalks and slides, pony rides, face painting and kiddie rides.
• Live stage: music and entertainment both days, with a seating area.
• Autos area: local dealerships show luxury cars.
• Community displays from schools, churches and nonprofits.

Running of the Weenies

The festival’s dachshund race in 2026 was Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Germantown Charity Horse Show Arena on the festival grounds, run by the Germantown Animal Shelter, according to the race information sheet:

• Best Dressed contest: 11 a.m., $10 entry; check in by 10:30 a.m. at the arena’s west gate.
• Race: 11:30 a.m., $35 entry; check in by 11 a.m. Dogs run in heats, and heat winners meet in the Grand Weenie final.
• Registration: in advance only, at the Germantown Animal Shelter, 7700 Southern Ave.; the 2026 deadline was 3:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4. No race-day sign-ups. Dogs must be true dachshunds.
• Questions: the shelter, 901-757-7358.

Parking and free shuttles

There is free parking at two lots, with free buses to the festival, according to the shuttle page:

• In 2026 buses ran 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
• The buses run a continuous loop, so there are no set times at each stop.
• Dogs on the bus: allowed if leashed and held, or carried in a small kennel. Owners clean up after their dogs, and the driver can refuse a dog that is not under control.

What to know

• The festival runs rain or shine. Check the National Weather Service forecast the organizer links from its site.
• The festival grounds are the same Poplar Pike grounds as the Germantown Charity Horse Show in June. Oaklawn Garden, 7831 Poplar Pike, is a short walk away.
• Vendor, food, stage, sponsor and car display applications for 2026 were posted on germantownfest.com; watch the same page for the next year’s.

For more on the season, see Labor Day in Germantown and fall festivals and pumpkin patches.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Germantown Festival?

The 2026 festival was Saturday, Sept. 12, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, Sept. 13, noon to 6 p.m., the weekend after Labor Day. The 2027 dates were not posted by Oct. 17, 2026.

Is the Germantown Festival free?

Yes. The organizer says admission is always free, and parking and shuttle buses are free too.

Where do you park for the Germantown Festival?

At two free lots: 1801 Exeter Road (the Germantown Athletic Club and GPAC) and Germantown Church of Christ, 8723 Poplar Pike. Free buses loop to the festival grounds at 7745 Poplar Pike.

Can I bring my dog to the Germantown Festival?

Dogs may ride the free shuttle if they are leashed and held or carried in a small kennel, and owners must clean up after them. The driver can refuse a dog that is not under control.

What is the Running of the Weenies?

A dachshund race at the festival run by the Germantown Animal Shelter. In 2026 the costume contest was at 11 a.m. and the race at 11:30 a.m. Saturday; entry was $35 to race and $10 for the costume contest, with pre-registration required.