Oktoberfest Marks 40 Years

By Samuel Sutton Oktoberfest! Standard-Radio Post reporter

One of Fredericksburg’s annual festivals brings a little bit of Bavaria to the Hill Country. Three days of singing, toasting, dancing and Gemütlichkeit will be featured at the 40th Oktoberfest Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1-3.

Sponsored by the Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance (PCAA), the family-oriented German event will take place at Marktplatz in downtown Fredericksburg.

The event is again expected to attract 1,400 volunteers and more than 23,000 visitors.

“I’m looking forward to all the camaraderie shared by all, the excitement and the Gemütlichkeit,” said Debbie Reeh, event producer. “It’s an amazing family festival.”

Entertainment

Five covered stages will host a continuous parade of entertainers.

The focus is the German favorites of oompah, polka, and waltzing, with a Lederhosen and Stein

Hoist contest, and plenty of opportunities for dancing, including the “Chicken Dance.”

Bands scheduled to perform this year include Oma & The Oompahs, Arion Maennerchor, Comal Community Band, Jodie Mikula Orchestra, Round Top Brass Band, German Schuhplattlers, Seven Dutchmen, Walburg Boys,

With an abundance of live entertainment, visitors and residents alike enjoy plenty of opportunities for dancing each year at Oktoberfest. This year’s event will be Friday through Sunday, Oct. 1-3.

Special Events

• Opening Ceremony at 5:45 on

Friday October 1 at the Main

Street entrance.

• OkTubaFest on Friday afternoon,

Oct. 1. All tuba and euphonium players are invited to participate.

The group will play starting at 5:45 p.m. just inside the front gate. • Meet the Shiner (Spoetzl

Brewery) brew master at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 1. • Strassen Zelt Altstadt Waltz

Contest at 8:30 p.m. Friday. • Hauptstrasse (Main Street)

Chicken Dance on Saturday,

Oct. 2. Registration at 9 a.m. and

dancing at 9:30 a.m. There are prizes for the first 400 to register. • Samuel Adams Stein Hoist at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2. • Altstadt Keg Tapping at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2.

• Real Estate Advisory Team 42

Tournament on Sunday, Oct. 3, in Strassen Zelt. Registration begins at noon and the tournament begins at 1 p.m.

Prizes will be given for the first-, second- and third-place teams. • Family Lederhosen and Dirndl

Contest at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday,

Oct. 3.

Standard-Radio Post file photo

Polkamatics, Boerne Village Band and Fun Time Polka Band.

Also performing are Hermann Sons Mixed Choir, Cloverleaf Orchestra, Czech Melody Masters, Czechaholics, Czech & Then Some, Chris Rybak, Swingin’ Dutchmen, Off The Grid, Tubameisters, Fredericksburg Filharmonic, Akkordion Klub of Fredericksburg, Yodel Blitz, Sax Appeal, Mario’s Accordion, Herschel Moody, Shirley Johnson, and Isaak Klaus.

And More…

• Shopping: Over 40 juried artisans from across the state will fill two tents with their best arts and collectibles.

• Art: A select group of Hill

Country artists will be selling their art. • Food: An array of German and

American food will be offered by over a dozen vendors.

• Drinks: Over 50 varieties of

German, American, Texan and other imported beers will be offered.

• Children’s area: Youngsters can bungee jump, slide or try their hand at six hi-strikers. There will also be other games and activities, including a stiltwalker, magician and face painter.

Park and Ride

Oktoberfest visitors can take advantage of a park and ride all three days of the celebration.

Parking will be available at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds.

Hours are from 5:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 1 and from 9:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Oct. 2. Several bands perform during the three-day event, such as the Reedmeisters, seen here playing in 2018. While they aren’t included in this year’s lineup, other bands like Hermann Sons Mixed Choir, Cloverleaf Orchestra, the Fredericksburg Filharmonic and more will be present.

Hours:

Friday — 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday — 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission:

$10 for adults $1 for children 7-12 Free for children 6 and under. Two-day passes — $15 Three-day passes — $20

Advance Tickets:

Available at www.oktoberfestinfbg.com

The cost is $5 per person/day for adults and free for children eight and under.

Park and ride tickets are available for advance purchase on the Oktoberfest website until October 2. For details, go to www.oktoberfestparkandride.com

About

Since its inception in 1981, Oktoberfest has been presented by the PCAA, Pedernales Creative Arts Alliance.

Community volunteers provide the labor, and all Oktoberfest proceeds are used for student scholarships, gifts and grants, the Marktplatz Concert Series and to support the local arts.

“Oktoberfest makes it possible for us to have 16 local students studying the arts this year,” Reeh said. “We provide scholarships to help pay for their education. It also enables us to support local arts program.”

For more information on Oktoberfest call 830-997-4810 or visit www.oktoberfestinfbg.com. Being a German festival, German food will obviously be served by over dozens of vendors. Local staples like Opa’s Smoked Meats have participated in previous years.

Oktoberfest generally features over 40 juried artisans across the state who sell items like dirndls, art and various collectibles.