The Jacksonville Rotary Club has announced details for the Fourth Annual Jacksonville “Oktoberfest” as a part of “Rotary Day” in Jacksonville. The “Oktoberfest” is a club fundraiser and fall area event. Past “Fests” have proven to be some of the largest fundraisers in the history of the Jacksonville Rotary Club. The event is also one the largest fundraisers held in the Rotary 6460 District. This year’s event, set for October 4th at the Morgan County Fairgrounds, promises to be an outstanding experience.
This year’s event will kick off at 11:00am on the morning of Saturday, October 4th. Advance tickets for the event went on sale Tuesday, Sept. 2nd. They are $4 in advance and $5 at the gate (advance tickets are available at County Market, SafeCo Bakery and Donuts on South Main or from any Rotarian). Food sales, the “Waterloo” Polka Band and registration for the Washers and Bags Tournaments all get underway at 11:00am. This year’s menu will again feature some very popular German themed specialties. Once again, the very popular full meal of Brats, Secret Recipe Sauerkraut and potatoes will be available.
The official “Wilkommen” ceremony and Tapping of the Kegs is set to take place at noon on the Jacksonville Savings Bank Main Stage. Since the 204 year old Oktoberfest in Munich specifically highlights and supports brewers in their area, beer is a major part of any Oktoberfest celebration. A. Gaudio and Sons Distributors will again supply the kegs for the Jacksonville version of Oktoberfest with Rotarians set to put in some very busy hours as servers. Attendees with commemorative steins from past years are invited to bring their steins with them to the event for a special price on refills throughout the day. If you don’t have a stein, they will be available for sale while supplies last.
Entertainment this year will focus on traditional German music along with some fun and
entertaining games. The “Heidelberg” German Band from the Quincy Area returns this year with their Page 2 Jacksonville Rotary announces Fourth Annual “Oktoberfest”… blend of high energy German “oom-pah” music and hilarious commentary. “Heidelberg” will take the Jacksonville Savings Bank Main Stage at 4pm. Fans and guests are invited to gather under the Westown Ford Tent to enjoy the music. As mentioned, the “Waterloo” band returns to this year’s event.
“Waterloo” delivers toe-tapping German tunes with a great stage show. “Waterloo” kicks off the day performing from 11am until 3pm in the Westown Ford Tent.
Throughout the day goofy and entertaining games will take place on the main stage. Look for, or compete in, the “Keg Toss” or “Stein Endurance” (where competitors hold a full beer stein straight out in front of their body with one hand) and others throughout the afternoon. Rotarian Allen Stare will provide the stage sound system and handle announcer duties between the acts and games.
The Wienie Dog Races, or the “Dachshund Dash” as it’s known at Oktoberfest, will be held at 2pm in the “Wienie Arena”. Registration is $10 and open to all area Dachshunds (or mostly Dachshunds).
Registrations can be made in advance. They will also be taken the day of the event as time allows.
Both the very popular International Beer Tasting and the International Wine Tasting return this year. For a one time admission to the “Beer Tasting” or “Wine Tasting” Tent, participants will be given generous samplings of ten international beers or wines. Information about the brewing process and brewery locations for each beer are included along with vineyard and winery backgrounds for the various wines. Both tasting tents will get underway following the Wilkommen Ceremony.
The 2013 Oktoberfest hosted just over 1,000 in attendance. This year event organizers are
working hard to double that number. The Oktoberfest was designed to be a major annual fundraiser for the Club and it has proven to be a huge success. A special Jacksonville Rotary Oktoberfest Facebook page has been launched and you can follow the event on Twitter by searching @OKFinJax. Get your tickets for Oktoberfest now and we will see you at the Morgan County Fairgrounds on October 4th.
