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A roundup of area Oktoberfest events next month

BY ALLISON BROWN GetOut Staff Writer

It’s time to pull on the lederhosen, lace up the dirndl and throw back a pint because Oktoberfest season is just around the corner. According to census data, more than 40 million Americans claim German ancestry — that’s roughly 16% of the U.S. population. And, while there aren’t any hard statistics on the subject, it’s safe to bet that at least a few million Americans also just love a good beer. Maybe that’s why the United States is the country ranked fourth for the most Oktoberfest celebrations, with Germany obviously taking first place. Here are a few of the Oktoberfest events happening across the state this year.

Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest

Oct. 1

For the first time, Pedal Haus Brewery and SanTan Brewing Company are joining together to host an epic Oktoberfest event in downtown Chandler Saturday, Oct. 1. Julian Wright, CEO and founder of Pedal Haus Brewery, said both of the Downtown Chandler companies decided to collaborate instead of competing. The Downtown Chandler Oktoberfest will feature beer and food from both SanTan and Pedal Haus breweries plus canned craft cocktails. The breweries will serve a range of beers including German-style Oktoberfests. German fare, including Bavarian-style soft pretzels and brats, will be served. In addition to the food and drinks, there will be a variety of classic Oktoberfest games and contests, including stein holding, wiener toss and sausage-eating contests. And, in keeping with the theme, a full lineup of live music is scheduled, including a German polka band. “We are stoked to be joining forces with our friends at SanTan to throw one of the best Oktoberfest events in the Valley this year,” Wright said. “I’ll be emceeing the stein holding and sausage-eating competitions, so grab your friends and lederhosen, this is going to be a fun event.” Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, 3 S. Arizona Ave., Chandler, 480-656-1639, pedalhausbrewery.com, 3-11 p.m., $15-$25

For the first time, Pedal Haus Brewery and SanTan Brewing Company are joining together to host an epic Oktoberfest event in downtown Chandler Saturday, Oct. 1. (Special to GetOut)

Litchfield Park Oktoberfest at The Wigwam

Oct. 1

In partnership with the city of Litchfield Park, The Wigwam is celebrating Oktoberfest with live music, lawn games, German-inspired cuisine and, of course, beer. Those who preorder tickets through Eventbrite will receive a commemorative Oktoberfest glass. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. This event is for ages 21 and older. The Wigwam Front Lawn, 300 E. Wigwam Blvd., Litchfield Park, 866-976-6894, wigwamarizona.com/events, 6-9 p.m., ticket price TBD

Flagstaff Oktoberfest

Oct 1

Flagstaff will host its 13th annual Oktoberfest this year, complete with drinks, food, live music, contests and even bounce houses for the kids. Beer will be aplenty, as will other typical Oktoberfest eats such as pretzels and bratwurst. Beer may take the center stage, but Jennifer Grogan, event producer, said the contests are “hilarious,” which is why a side stage is set up for five events throughout the day. First up is the wiener man race, where people put on hot dog costumes and race to navigate through an obstacle course. New this year is the chicken dance contest. There is also a brat-eating contest, which Grogan said is both a “fan favorite and absolutely disgusting.” Then there is the traditional Bavarian stein contest for men and women, separately. In this contest, participants hold a liter of beer in a heavy-duty glass with their arms in front of them. The last competition of the day is the frozen T-shirt contest. Grogan said T-shirts are folded, tied and frozen, and teams of two compete to try to be the first to get the shirt undone and on a body. She adds that, because this is the last competition of the day, participants are usually “feeling the alcohol… so it’s pretty funny.” Wheeler Park, 212 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, 928-606-7600, flagstaffoktoberfest.com, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., $5-$7, kids under 12 free.

QUEEN CREEK TRIBUNE | QUEENCREEKTRIBUNE.COM | SEPTEMBER 25, 2022 OKTOBERFEST from page 24

Haus Murphy’s

All October

Haus Murphy is a German restaurant that offers beer, brats, pretzels and Polka year-round. But during October, it ramps up. The restaurant has been serving German food for 26 years, so while the Oktoberfest fan favorites of soft pretzels and bratwursts are available, there is a whole menu of authentic German cuisine to try. Limited seating is available, and spots tend to fill up fast, so advance reservations are strongly recommended. Haus Murphy’s, 5739 W. Glendale Ave., Glendale, 623-939-2480, hausmurphys. com, 5-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October

Four Peaks Oktoberfest

Oct. 7-9

The Four Peak Oktoberfest in Tempe is the largest in the state, drawing 75,000 to 100,000 people over the three-day period. Food is provided by Denmark Foods, with the featured menu item being a Kilt Lifter Brat in partnership with Four Peaks. New this year, there will also be vegetarian empanadas. The festival has a carnival with 15 to 20 rides and games. Live music will be played each night, including a performance from a German polka band. There will also be classic Oktoberfest competitions, such as stein holding, brat eating, a wiener dog race and a wiener dog fashion show — which features dog and owner in costume. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe, 60-.625-3493, fourpeaksoktoberfest.com, various times Oct.7-9, $20, Sunday free

Gilbert Oktoberfest

Oct. 15

In its third year, the Gilbert Oktoberfest is ramping things up “100%,” according to event director Mike O’Donnell. He said there will be more beer, more food and more entertainment. The event is teaming with breweries in the East Valley, which will create something completely new. “They’re creating a collaborative beer for this event, where each one of the brewmasters has been sitting together and they all come up with their own recipe,” O’Donnell said. “We will have that available at every outlet at the event and it will only be available there at the event.” The event also features the selfproclaimed “Queen of Oktoberfest,” and her band “The Oktoburlesques.” They perform traditional polka blended with today’s hits. In true Oktoberfest spirit, there will also be a brat-eating contest and stein holding contest. There’s also a kid’s zone and children can enter for free. Gilbert Regional Park, 3005 E. Queen Creek Road, Gilbert, gilbertoktoberfest. com, 2-9 p.m., ticket price TBD 

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INSIDE Eastmark to graduate its first senior class

An edition of the East Valley Tribune FREE FREE | QueenCreekTribune.com QueenCreekTribune.com Sunday, May 15, 2022

BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor

COMMUNITY .....18

New QCUSD principal ‘coming home.’

BUSINESS...........20

Barrio Queen gives QC a Restaurant Week presence.

SPORTS...............25

Queen Creek officials are addressing citizens’ questions and concerns about LG Energy Solution’s plans to build a lithium battery plant as town and San Tan Valley residents remain divided over the South Korean manufacturer’s facility. The barren 650.5 acre site at Ironwood and Germann roads was sold last month at a state Land Department auction for $84.4 million to ES America, which is partnering with LG Energy on the $1.4 billion Queen Creek project. That project is part of LG Energy’s plan to invest more than $4.5 billion in an expansion of its American operations by 2025 as it tries to top its Chinese rival as the largest supplier

Just over two years ago, Adelin Longhurst was enjoying her high school in her home state of Kentucky. At the time, she had no idea she would soon make an impact on a much smaller Queen Creek Unified high school in East Mesa. But when her family made the move to Arizona, she found Eastmark High School. She enjoyed the small student population that the school still has in just its third year of existence. Adelin wanted to become involved. COMMUNITY........................18 BUSINESS ..............................20 OPINION.................................23 SPORTS...................................25 CLASSIFIEDS........................26 Queen Creek football seeks state dominance. of lithium batteries for electric vehicles, creating 10,000 new jobs in the United States. A month before the State Land deal, LG Energy picked its existing plant in Holland, Michigan, for a $1.7 billion expansion that it said would create 1,200 jobs. Some predict the Queen Creek plant will create far more see EASTMARK page 10 see LITHIUM page 6 Debate continues over QC lithium plant BY KATHLEEN STINSON Tribune Staff Writer

ghurst was enjoying her high school in her home state of Kentucky. At the time, she had no idea she would soon make an impact on a much smaller Queen Creek Unified high school in East But when her family made the move to Arizona, she found Eastmark High School. She enjoyed the small student population that the school still has in Adelin wanted to become involved. Eastmark Student Council members, from left, Becca Hinton, Sydni Lawson, Grace Foote, Mylie Stones, Esther Robinson, Amelia Barton and Adelin Longhurst have helped establish traditions that they hope will live on well beyond graduation on Wednesday, May 18, when they become the school’s first graduating class. (Dave Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer) izens’ questions and concerns about LG Energy Solution’s plans to build a lithium battery plant as town and San Tan Valley residents remain divided over the South Korean manufacturer’s facility. Amid yet another snafu by the Pinal County Elections Department, at least one of the three Queen Creek Town Council seats could be headed for a November run-off following the results of Tuesday’s primary. With some ballots countywide still being counted as of the Tribune’s print 䌀栀愀渀最椀渀最 琀栀攀 眀愀礀 䄀洀攀爀椀挀愀 眀愀琀挀栀攀猀 吀嘀 匀琀漀渀攀䌀爀攀攀欀䘀甀爀渀椀琀甀爀攀⸀挀漀洀

deadline Friday, results from the Maricopa County Recorder’s Officer showed incumbent Dawn Oliphant with 27% of the vote; Bryan McClure, 25%; Travis Padilla, 25% and Matt McWilliams, 23%. The Pinal County results had Oliphant with 27%; McWilliams, 25%; McClure, 24% and Padilla, 23%. According to the latest available data, Pinal reported that a total 2,559 ballots had been cast in its portion of Queen

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Creek while the Maricopa portion saw 10,482 ballots.The threshold for an outright win involves dividing the total number of votes by the number of available seats, then dividing by 2. As of Friday, the whole numbers put Padilla ahead of McWilliams, 6,100-5874.But the math may be further compliBY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer Pinal snafus muddy outcome of QC council racesINSIDE NEWS .................... 4 Sunday, August 7, 2022 FREE | QueenCreekTribune.com An edition of the East Valley Tribune Council discusses QC road median headache. see ELECTIONS page 6 COMMUNITY........................16 BUSINESS ..............................18 OPINION.................................20 SPORTS...................................22 GET OUT.................................23 CLASSIFIEDS........................26 SPORTS...............22 QC dad, son cherish last season together. BUSINESS...........18 QC women run unique Lego store. East Valley municipalities in the last fiscal year took advantage of unanticipated general fund revenue increases to make big additional payments on their debt to pensions earned by thousands of retired police officers and firefighters. But Tempe, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler and Scottsdale still have a long way to go before they erase their huge unfunded liabilities. Those five municipalities still owe a total $1.4 billion for pensions covering 955 retired firefighters, 1,471 retired cops and see PENSION page 10 QC an exception amid big pension debt BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Executive Editor The plane is on the way A jet engine may seem a bit of an unusual sight at a high school, but a plane may soon be on the way at the new American Leadership Academy campus in east Mesa. The sprawling 223,000-square-foot charter school is taking a new approach to vocational education, as you’ll read on page 8. (Enrique Garcia/Tribune Contributor)

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