Hundreds of wiener dogs take to streets of Key West for annual Dachshund Walk
About 200 short-legged “wiener dogs” kicked off New Year’s Eve Saturday afternoon strutting their stuff at the annual Key West Dachshund Walk.
Thousands of spectators watched the pooch parade where many of the four-legged participants wore costumes or eccentric accessories.
A dachshund garbed as a “Star Wars” storm trooper took center stage in an ensemble featuring a woman dressed as Princess Leia, the character played by the late Carrie Fisher.
Other standouts included dogs costumed as wieners in buns, peace-nik pups riding a “flower power” wagon, castaways in a large orange life raft and a walking Tootsie roll.
Later Saturday night, tens of thousands of human revelers are expected to gather in the island’s historic district for four warm-weather takeoffs on New York City’s traditional Times Square ball drop.
New Year’s Eve festivities scheduled elsewhere in the Florida Keys include waterfront fireworks displays in Key Largo, Islamorada and Marathon.