Bring Your Dog to Barktoberfest in Hamburg and Get Free Food
Barktoberfest is Paws 4 the Cause's yearly fundraiser at the Liquor Barn in Hamburg, 1837 Plaudit Place. It is a Saturday in October, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in 2026, and it is free to walk in. I got there around noon on Saturday, October 10, 2026, straight from the South Elkhorn Fall Festival, which is where it started raining on me. It followed me there along the way, but by the time I parked and got out, the rain had stopped.
The crowd and the weather
I think turnout might have been slightly down but people were steadily trickling in with their dogs. It could have been a low turnout because of the tropical depression coming in. Attendance was a fraction of what it was at the fall festival. But that just made it easy to walk around, look at things and just get in and get out.
Parking
I parked in the cul-de-sac at the entrance to the Liquor Barn parking lot.
Free food
They were giving out free brats and hot dogs. I got a brat. Dietz & Watson had the tent with the free brats, and Liquor Barn's free deli meats table shared the same tent.
The food trucks and tents
Londonberry food truck was there, they had bubble waffles, and Bumble Bites was there. Smokin' Joe's cheese spread was giving out samples. Ethereal Brewing was there serving craft beer. Chenault Vineyards was there serving wine. So eating and drinking and partying with your dog is easy. And the dogs were CUTE!!!
Everything else
Some pet clothing tents and live music. They had a silent auction with gift baskets, lots of gift baskets. The one pictured is a cat gift basket I was eyeballin'. They had face painting and paw print painting too. F'Hen Tail Feathers Dog Treats were there promoting and selling their dog treats.
The dogs
Lots of dogs, and a lot of them in costumes. Pictures below. Rex came in dressed as a doctor. He was quite serious about it. When I saw him I think he stole my heart. I'm not a donor Rex!
Adopting a dog
I didn't see any adoptable dogs. I went and asked, and they said adoptions go through their Petfinder page, and gave me a card.
Paws 4 the Cause is at 201 Newtown Pike, and visitors are by appointment only. You fill out the application on paws4thecause.com first. The animals are spayed or neutered and vaccinated before adoption, and a microchip is an optional $25. You can see the dogs and cats up for adoption now on their Petfinder page.
Next stop
From here I headed downtown for West Sixth Oktoberfest.
If you live in Hamburg or are looking at moving out that way, this is one of the Saturdays to keep every October, and it is one more thing on the Hamburg calendar that is free to walk into.
More October fests
The Details
- What. Paws 4 the Cause's annual Barktoberfest, a fundraiser for the rescue with free brats and hot dogs, food trucks, local beer and wine, vendors, a silent auction, live music and face painting.
- When. A Saturday in October. In 2026 it was October 10, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Where. Liquor Barn Hamburg, 1837 Plaudit Pl, Lexington, KY 40509.
- Cost. Free to walk in.
- Dogs. Bring them, that is the point.
- Neighborhood. Hamburg.
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