Short Dawgs in Da House Dog Racing Festival to Ventura Harbor Village

Start: Saturday, April 18, 2026 10:00AM
End: Saturday, April 18, 2026 3:00PM

Dozens of dachshunds, corgis, and small dogs will race along the waterfront April 18 during the free family-friendly festival hosted by Rowdy Dachshund. Ventura, Calif. (March, 2026) – Dozens of dachshunds, corgis, and small dogs will race along the Ventura Harbor waterfront next month as the viral pup Rowdy Dachshund, a professional skateboarding dog and champion racer with over 304,000 Instagram followers, hosts “Short Dawgs in Da House” for the first time ever. The dog-chella event of the year will take place on the Ventura Harbor Village Main Lawn on April 18, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Completely free to attend and participate, guests will experience a full day of small dog races and family-friendly entertainment at the waterfront: • Dachshund, corgi, and small dog races • Best trick and best outfit contests • A harbor-wide scavenger hunt • Live music and photo ops • 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 event at the Ventura Harbor,” said Ivan Cano and Kim Estrada, event promoters and owners of Rowdy. “Ventura is an incredibly pet-friendly town, and we can’t wait for dog lovers to enjoy and experience Short Dawgs in Da House.” Short Dawgs in Da House will bring together over 15 dog-friendly vendors in the Community Vendor Village. Live music by “Blake Quake” and MC “John Wick” will keep the party going. Pizzanista!, an iconic New York-style pizza shop based in Southern California, is Short Dawgs in Da House’s official race sponsor. Founded by Skateboarding Hall of Famer and legendary street skater innovator Salman Agah, Pizzanista! has released pro skateboards —of which Rowdy has one— and has hosted guest chef nights and artistic collaborations with brands like Vans, Patagonia, Nike, Volcom, and skateboard icons such as Christian Hosoi and Steve Caballero. Pizzanista! will be an on-site vendor where attendees can purchase Rowdy Pro Deck Skateboards and merch. Food and beverages will be available at local Ventura Harbor Village restaurants and shops for attendees. “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, a new event for us, will be a great opportunity for our residents and visitors alike to enjoy some friendly dog competition, sample our seaside restaurants, browse our curated retail shops, and enjoy the many ways to get on the water. At the Ventura Harbor, anything is paws-ible!” Attendees can extend their trip to the Ventura Harbor Village by staying at nearby harborfront hotel properties like Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort, or Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ventura Harbor by IHG, and make it a weekend beach getaway. Other parts of Ventura also host a variety of pet-friendly activities and experiences. Attendees are encouraged to bring their dogs, get ready to meet other dog lovers, support local vendors, participate in contests, and enjoy a festival built just for them and their pup. Rowdy is a longtime Ventura fan, promoting the new Westpark Skatepark in a social media video garnering over 216,000 views, and showcasing the pet-friendly boat rentals at the Ventura Harbor in a video that got over 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 dog racing and festival,” said Marlyss Auster, President & CEO of Visit Ventura, a partner on the event with Ventura Harbor Village. “This is truly a dream come true. Our connection with Rowdy and her parents, Ivan and Kim, began two years ago at the X Games, and since then, Rowdy has helped us spotlight Ventura’s pet-friendly hotels, activities, and restaurants. Ventura is the perfect beach town to celebrate our four-legged friends who love a beach vacation just as much as their humans.” Media Contacts: Ventura Harbor Village, Susan Bejeckian, 626.232.3040, sbejeckian@gmail.com Visit Ventura: Julie Madsen, 805-641-1400, julie@visitventuraca.com