Basset Hound

In North America, Basset Hound picnics and waddles are traditions in many regions and draw impressive crowds and participations from hundreds or even thousands of Bassets and their owners. Most events are held to raise funds for local and regional Basset rescue groups. For example, The Allentown Basset Picnic thrived for seven years before becoming Tri-State's Basset Freedom Fest in 2003. Other major annual basset hound events, including the Buffalo Basset Bash, the New Orleans Basset Boogie, the Washington (state) Basset Rescue's Basset Blast in Spokane, the Woodinville, Washington Annual Basset Bash and parade and the Michigan Basset Waddle, share many similarities with North American community or food festivals and even "crown" king and queen bassets in a manner reminiscent of other civic festival crownings of event "royalty". Other traditions and competitions, such as deciding which basset has the best waddle, longest ears, best bay, or can keep a towel on its head the longest, are generally unique to basset hound picnics and waddles. These events also feature a wide variety of custom-made items depicting basset hounds and play an important role in raising money for basset hound rescue organizations. Often featured at shows and festivals is a world-famous pack of performing basset hounds known as "The Happy Basset Hounds." The trio consist of Eleanor, Annabel and Buster, and they make their home in Texarkana, Ark. The act was formerly headlined by the celebrated Ernest T. Basset, now deceased.
Popular culture
On February 27 1928, Time magazine featured a Basset Hound on the front cover. The accompanying story was about the 52nd annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden as if observed by the Basset Hound puppy. This prestige is often seen as the event which made the Basset Hound a popular part of American popular culture.