ELLWOOD CITY – The 12th annual Oktoberfest, the last big bash of the year, is Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. at Ewing Park.
Ellwood City’s version of the German folk festival in Munich, Bavaria, is their unique fusion of German food and local favorites, as well as German music and popular songs, and it all melds together into an afternoon of food, fun, games and a whole lot more.
It’s a rain or shine affair with an abundance of food, the chance to sample home-brewed and craft beers and a great opportunity to have fun with friends. The fun and games include door prizes, a silent auction, basket raffle, corn hole tournament and a keg toss competition and other games. From 1 to 4 p.m., Tou ché, local band, will be entertaining from the Folino Stage.
Bryan Downs, owner of Pete’s Uptown, the official beer sponsor, said there will be home brewers, craft beers from micro-breweries giving people the opportunity to taste lesser-known brews.
“There will be 20 to 25 micro-brewers at the event and there will be more than 120 different beers to taste,” he said.
For those tasting the brews, there are Pretzels on a Rope, which are pretzels strung on a thin rope and can be worn as a necklace. Taste a brew, eat a pretzel, so you are ready to taste the next brew.
Wolves Club member Denny Boariu, chairman of the event, stressed that the Oktoberfest is not a drinking event; the beer is served an inch or two in a 3 oz glass to sample.
Traditional German food including sauerkraut and kielbasa and a crowd favorite, halushka, made with Lynn Smilek’s family recipe, that differs from haluski because it has no noodles but rather tiny handmade dumplings. The diversity of the Ellwood City area is reflected in the variety of local favorites, fish, deep-fried pretzels, meatball and sausage sliders, pepperoni puffs and French fries and hotdogs.
The Ellwood City version of the Oktoberfest doesn’t have an oompah band, but Richard Tomak will be creating the traditional ambiance dressed in customary Bavarian garb and playing his accordion as he strolls through the crowd.
The Wolves Club leads the event that is a joint effort of the Wolves Club, Lions Club and the Rotary Club of Ellwood City. A Donation will be made to Ellwood City Meals on Wheels.
What: 12th Annual Oktoberfest
Where: Wolves Shelter in Ewing Park, Ellwood City
When: Noon to 5:00 p.m. Saturday
Admission: $30 in advance and $35 the day of the event. Tickets are available at Pete’s Uptown, The Ellwood Candy Company, the Ellwood Area Chamber of Commerce and from members of the Wolves, Lions and Rotary clubs.
Entertainment schedule:
1 p.m.: Corn Hole Tournament followed by Keg Toss
1 p.m.: Richard Tomak till ?
1 to 4 p.m.: Tou ché on the Folino Stage
