DANVILLE — Dachshunds across the Midwest are sorting through their wardrobes, looking for patriotic outfits to wear this weekend.

Expect to see the doxies dressed as police officers, firefighters, military personnel and rescue workers at the 14th annual Midwest Dachshund Festival on Saturday.

Appropriate for the anniversary of 9/11, the event will have the theme “Salute to Our Heroes.”

The costume contest at 2 p.m. is one of the highlights. Owners of dachshunds start choosing an outfit months before the show.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Anne Sacheli with the Danville Visitors and Convention Bureau said of the costume contest. “People are so creative, and the dogs are so cute. It’s a lot of fun.”

Sacheli, who has two mixed-breed dogs, said spectators are invited to come out and watch that contest and others.

Mayor Scott Eisenhauer will judge the costume contest.

Last year, the event attracted 420 people and 310 dogs, coordinator Sue Shumard of Jasper, Mo., said, and she expects more this year. “Rain or shine, we’ll be there,” she said, noting there’s a building that the participants can use in case of rain.

At this point, she has 17 vendors and groups promoting rescue signed up. Anyone who wants to set up a booth should let her know by Friday night.

Otherwise, there is no pre-registration for the contests.

A new feature this year is that there will be an opening ceremony with a patriotic theme at 10 a.m., conducted by the Northland Christian Church Boy Scout Troop 365.

The troop also will sell hot dogs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Other new features include the Vermilion County chapter of the American Red Cross giving canine CPR demonstrations and a local veterinarian providing a microchip clinic.

Plus, a blessing of the pets will be at 11:15 a.m.

The ever-popular wiener races will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Besides the costume contest, there will contests to award those who traveled farthest, oldest dog, best trick, largest doxie (size, not weight) and the owner who brought the most pups.

Parades will feature dogs over 10 years, handicapped dogs, rescued pups, first-timers and veterans of the picnic.

A new vendor this year will be Dachshund Delights, based in Ohio, which sells Hug-a-Dog Harness to accommodate a doxie’s long back.

In the past, the festival has been held at Kickapoo State Park, Lincoln Park and Danville High School. This is the second year for the fairgrounds site.

The festival attracts dachshund owners from across the country, and the Danville location is convenient for many people. Linda Stowe, formerly of Danville, started the festival.

Shumard said several dog owners will camp Friday night at the fairgrounds, and will be available to talk to other dog lovers.

She also noted Fetch Dog Park off Voorhees has invited festival participants to use the park at no charge this weekend.

Peer Court participants will be directing parking and doing clean-up.

“They have been wonderful, wonderful helpers,” Sacheli said.

COMING UP

--The 14th annual Midwest Dachshund Festival will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds off U.S. Route 150. Special events include races at 10:30 a.m., a blessing of pets at 11:15 a.m. and a costume contest at 2 p.m.

--For more information, go to http://midwestdachshundfestival.com or e-mail Sue  Shumard at mwdfpicnic@drna. org or call her at (417) 394-9914.

--The Midwest Dachshund Rescue Web site is http://www.mwdr.org and the Dachshund Rescue of North America is http://www.drna.org.