Got a dachshund or a small dog that runs like a greyhound?

Then Syracuse is the place to be this weekend for the first annual "Veiner" dog races and much more.

This Otoe County town about 30 miles east of Lincoln is hosting a 25th anniversary celebration of its German heritage, beginning Friday evening and ending Sunday afternoon.

"There is a height and weight requirement," said Rhae Werner, referring to the dog races. She is co-chairing the annual community celebration, now called GermanFest, with Amy Serris. Twenty-five years ago, it began as Danke Schoen Days.

All dachshunds are welcome but veiner want-a-be pooches must not exceed 35 pounds or 15 inches, measured at the front shoulder. So bring your basset hound but leave your Labrador at home.

Werner and Serris, with the help of a lot of local groups, have been working since March to make this year's GermanFest very special.

Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, classic cars and hot rods will cruise into Syracuse via Nebraska 2 and 50, the two highways into town. The popular event will be followed by the selection of "Lil Miss GermanFest" and the crowning of the 2009 royalty. A burgermeister also will be named for the three-day celebration.

Tom Compton, owner of T.C.'s Place, was the first burgermeister for Danke Schoen Days.

"It was cold, I remember that!" Compton said. "The band was supposed to play on main street but it was too cold (down in the 30s) and they went from bar-to-bar."

Compton said he and two buddies, Terry Sailor and Terry Knickman, came up with the idea for a German heritage celebration, after visiting Watertown, Minn., which was hosting a Danke Schoen Days festival.

"We said, man, this is something we should do in Syracuse," Compton said, and the rest is GermanFest history.

Compton has been burgermeister only once and he considers that quite an honor because, to the best of his knowledge, all of the others have been of German heritage.

"I'm probably the only Irish/Danishman that's been burgermeister," he said with a chuckle.

Saturday will draw the biggest crowds to Syracuse. A pancake breakfast, beginning at 7 a.m., will kick off the day's events, which include a youth fun mile and 5K run, home brew contest, bed races, kids parade, two-block beer garden, main stage wackiness (fun contests for all ages), free watermelon feed, firefighters' water fight, veiner dog races, kids tractor pull, rib fest, polka dancing lessons and contest, hog calling contest and fireworks at 10 p.m.

The Lincoln band Cactus Hill will play at the street dance, which starts at 9 p.m. Werner said that usually draws the most people.

Sunday's activities will be a little less hectic. They will begin with a community church service at 10 a.m., followed by an ice cream social at noon. Early afternoon activities include a "Living in the Time of the Civil War" re-enactment and a garden walk featuring four home gardens and a church prayer garden.

David Marsh will perform "Music from the Germanic Lands" at 2 p.m. He will sing folk songs and play traditional music on various instruments.

In past years, between 500 and 1,000 people have attended GermanFest and organizers hope for a good turnout this year.

"We're definitely not as big as Wilber or Applejack," said Werner, referring to the the annual Czech heritage and the Nebraska City celebrations, which draw much larger crowds.

But that's fine with her because GermanFest is not intended to make money. Instead, she said, it's a way to promote the community and introduce people to this town of 1,863 people.

"It's a chance for people to come and have fun," Werner said.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402- 473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.