Plenty of food, beer, music and friends at annual Rotary Club fundraiser
By Ben Cox
Photos submitted
The Rotary Club of Jacksonville continued its tradition of bringing together friends and families under the guise of one of the world’s oldest and largest Volksfests — Oktoberfest.
The service club’s Oktoberfest was held on Saturday, Sept. 20 at the Morgan County Fairgrounds.
The first Oktoberfest ever held was on Oct. 12, 1810, in celebration of the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen in Munich, Germany. The first festival featured a horse race, children dressed in regional costumes and a children’s choir. Carnival booths and other things appeared much later.
During the late 19th Century, the festival was moved to September to take advantage of warmer evenings. “O’zapft is!” or “It is tapped!” opens the festival each year with the first tapping of the kegs of Märzen, a lager beer made from the first fruits of the grain harvest. It is often called festbier in Germany. There are only six breweries in Munich who hold the international trademark to actually bill its beer as Oktoberfestbier. In Germany, the festival lasts approximately 16 days.
It’s no surprise that Oktoberfest in Jacksonville has become such a widespread success each year. The area has a long tradition of German immigration. Now in its 14th year, the festival is one of The Rotary Club of Jacksonville’s largest fundraising events.
Similar to its German cousin, it features an annual “race” of Dachshund breed dogs as well as a costume contest. Other common games include the keg toss and a stein endurance test for both men and women. The recent festival in Jacksonville expanded its musical offerings this year with Trio DeGroove closing out the evening after traditional and modern polka-style music provided by Tony Blazonczyk’s New Phaze opened.
The list of breweries has increased over the years as well. Illinois brewers Destihl and Riggs Beer Company, along with St. Louis German-style specialty brewer Urban Chestnut, brought the official Oktoberfest beers this year. Traditional American lagers were also available as were a number of wines. Kids games and activities in their own tent were also a new addition.
With the rains staying away and the temperature remaining tolerable, it was a good day under the tents at the Morgan County Fairgrounds — filled with food, family and a good beer if you so desired.
