Jenna Bacon, Campus Carrier arts and living editor

Ali Luciani, Campus Carrier asst. arts and living editor

This past weekend Rome, hosted the sixth annual Schnauzerfest. Schnauzerfest is the largest gathering of schnauzers in North America, with nearly 800 schnauzers in attendance. The celebration began with a barbecue and meet-and-greet last Friday evening at Burk Farm. Dogs took part in a variety of activities, including barn hunt, fast cat and agility competitions.  

Last Saturday morning, all of the dogs and their owners donned their costumes and marched in the Schnauzerfest parade, where they handed out candy to the children on the parade route. There was a costume contest to decide which dog and owner team had the best costume.

“It’s hard to pick because, I’m telling you, these people go all out with these costumes,” Tampa, Fla. resident Veronica Rupert said. “The person who won, they were dressed in military attire, and they had an actual tank that moved that they put the dog in.”

After the parade, all dogs and their owners met at the Rome Auditorium, where a presentation was given to honor all the dogs who had passed. Vendors with schnauzer-themed merchandise and a schnauzer rescue organization were also there.

This was Rupert’s second year attending Schnauzerfest with her family. 

“Schnauzers are very barky, and people tend not to understand them,” Rupert said. “So, when you find a group of people who get it, it is amazing, and we’ve made friends from it.”

Six years ago, Hugh Tyner, founder of Schnauzerfest, couldn’t find a national gathering of schnauzers, so his wife suggested he host one himself. 

“I took that as a challenge, and I started talking with some other schnauzer owners that I knew, and I just made the decision to pull the trigger,” Tyner said. 

He originally hoped a hundred people might show up to support his idea.

“I don’t even know if we had 300 people watching the first year. The crowd size has increased well over 2,500 to 3,000 people watching the parade,” Tyner said.

Tyner said that the community aspect has become important over the years. For many families, the friendships formed here extend far beyond the weekend celebration. Owners stay in touch through Facebook groups and reunite at dog-related events.

Rupert shared why she fell in love with the schnauzer breed. 

“They’re so smart and very loyal,” Rupert said. “They’re great little guard dogs too. They will let you know when anyone is in your yard or at your front door, and they’re just so smart and easy to train.”

What many attendees say keeps them coming back each year is the sense of comfort and community they find when they gather in Rome. 

“We thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be a giant bark fest,’” Poer said. “But it was so quiet because it’s like they all knew each other and they were here for a purpose.”

Tyner said that the calm atmosphere comes from the dogs simply being together.

“Dogs are pack animals. That’s what they love,” Tyner said. “Schnauzerfest is just a big, huge dog pack.”  

For returning participants, Schnauzerfest is more than an event — it’s a reunion.

“Every year, we all hang together and try to have dinner and lunches,” Poer said. “We look forward to getting the family back together every year.”

Tyner said the support is what keeps him motivated to continue hosting the festival. “My favorite day is the day after Schnauzerfest, and I get on social media all day and just see the reactions and the joy it brings to these people’s lives. We can’t wait for next year already,” Tyner said. 

For dogs like Lola, for owners like Rupert and Poer, and for Tyner himself, Schnauzerfest has become a tradition rooted in joy. 

Poer said activities like fast cat help strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners. For her, watching Lola enjoy the competitions makes the trip worth it.

“This dog loves it. I mean, the smile on her face when she runs,” said Poer. “You know she has a blast.”

For many schnauzer owners, the weekend is one they look forward to all year long. It’s a chance to celebrate the breed they love while being surrounded by people who feel the same way.

Tyner hopes to involve more local volunteers in the future, especially students from Berry and Shorter University.

“We need help in marketing, social media and communication,” Tyner said. “I was thinking that would be a great way for us to help each other.”

The next Schnauzerfest is already planned to occur on Oct. 30 and 31 of next year.