Greening Greater Greenfield’s Oktoberfest will return for its fifth year on Sept. 26, but the event will be at a new location closer to downtown Greenfield.
G3 member Shari Royse-Bellar said the reason for the move from the traditional location of Washington and South streets is a simple one: “To bring life back to downtown.”
“Greenfield’s downtown used to boom, and it can again,” she said, adding that one way to do that was to “bring excitement” to the downtown area.
And while this year’s Oktoberfest will be at a new location, attendees can expect some of the traditional fun with the rubber chicken toss, sponsored by Garman’s Feed and Supply; the pumpkin bowling, conducted by the Mothers Club; face painting by Y-Gradale; and pumpkin painting sponsored by Edgewood Manor.
But there are new things too this year, Royse-Bellar said. A “punkin’ chunkin’ machine,” made by the McClain Industrial Arts class, will sling foam pumpkins. Adena of Greenfield will be doing a “German Cake Walk.” There will be photo cut-outs sponsored and created by Spark Creative Artspace, and a straw maze for the kiddos.
Also set for this year is a Doxie Derby, pitting pint-sized Dachshunds in a race against each other.
All registered dogs must be full-bred dachshund, according to G3. Participants need to be downtown by 5:45 p.m. as the derby will immediately follow the 6 p.m. pretzel breaking. To register, email [email protected] and be sure to include a phone number. Call Shirley Gaskell at 740-505-0459 for more information.
Tennessee oompah band The Oom-Pah-Sters will be performing “and look to be a lot of fun,” Royse-Bellar said. The band is sponsored by the Highland County Visitors Bureau, with Greenfield Music supplying some of the equipment to be used.
The Greenfield Lions Club will once again be offering its German fare with brats, sauerkraut, ghoetta, and all of the German “fixins,” according to G3. And Karnes Orchards will have apples and cider available, too.
The John Baal Beirgarten, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, will be located in the Walls Insurance parking lot on Washington Street, just across the alley from the city building courtyard. As in previous years, the biergarten will be roped off.
Festivities begin at 5 p.m. and the “ceremonial and traditional” breaking of the pretzel is at 6 p.m., according to G3.
The event, as always, is a family-friendly affair and G3 encourages the community to come out and enjoy the festivities.
For more information on the event, and to keep abreast of the organization’s activities, visit the Greening Greater Greenfield Facebook page, or go to g3greenfield.org.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
