Hundreds of dogs to compete in 17th annual Frankenmuth Dog Bowl

FRANKENMUTH, MI — The Frankenmuth Dog Bowl, touted as the world's largest Olympic-style festival for dogs, returns to Michigan's "Little Bavaria" this Memorial Day weekend.

The 17th annual Frankenmuth Dog Bowl festival takes place Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, at Frankenmuth River Place Shops and includes hundreds of dogs competing in events like DockDogs and Disc Dogs of Michigan competitions, border collie sheep-herding demonstrations, a pet parade and costume contest, trick competitions and doggie fun run races, according to a Frankenmuth Dog Bowl news release.

The annual event is expected to draw more than 100,000 visitors to Frankenmuth over the holiday weekend. Memorial Day is Monday, May 29.

The festival is free to attend, but some events, such as the annual canine cruise on the Cass River, require a registration fee. Dogs are welcome as long as they are kept on a 6-foot leash.

"Our events team has worked very hard to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all of our guests, whether they are humans or canines," Michael Zehnder, owner of Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Inc., which owns and operates River Place Shops, said in a statement. "We are looking forward to a doggone fun weekend and the return of Bavarian Inn's signature Memorial Day weekend festivities."

Part of the festival is Balloons Over Bavarian Inn, featuring 25 hot air balloon pilots from across the country who will take to the skies for morning and evening competitions and return to River Place Shops for nightly balloon glows throughout the weekend. Visitors will have the chance to see the hot air balloons light up and interact with pilots and their crews from 9 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of the Balloon Glow Village event.

The 2023 Frankenmuth Dog Bowl will conclude with the Zehnder's of Frankenmuth fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Sunday. The fireworks are visible from across Frankenmuth, and can be best viewed from the large field east of River Place Shops.

For a full schedule of events, visit dogbowlfun.com/events.

Click through the gallery above to see photos from last year's event.

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