You’re ‘willkommen’ to celebrate Oktoberfest

By Correne Martin

Prairie du Chien’s Oktoberfest is as elaborate as any celebration around. And it’s even bigger and better this year, with entertainment for every member of the family—German or not.

In its sixth year, Oktoberfest will welcome, or “willkommen,” partiers to St. Feriole Island in Prairie du Chien Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fall colors will adda vibrancy to the already lively activities, which collectively serve as a fundraiser for the Memorial Gardens.

“We have a beautiful area here and Oktoberfest is a lot of fun for the whole family,” stated Dan Winkleski, Oktoberfest committee member. “We’re trying to amp it up this year. We will have the traditional beer garden for the adults but the master gardeners will do a lot with the kids too. Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter is holding a Canine Costume Contest, we have a bunch of new vendors coming this year, and the beer stein holding contest will be exciting to watch the macho men (and women) try.”

The parade will start the festivities at 10 a.m.; the route begins at Peoples State Bank and follows Blackhawk Avenue to St. Feriole Island. (Line-up is on Michigan Street.) Interested participants, bands, floats and groups are encouraged to call Suzette Cunningham at 326-2985.

Kicking off the day’s music, at 11 a.m., the Prairie du Chien High School band will play the national anthems of both the United States and Germany, and the Boy Scouts will follow with the Pledge of Allegiance. Also at 11 a.m., arts and crafts vendors will open up shop, children’s activities will begin, authentic German food and beverages will be sold, a disc golf contest will start, and the hammerschlagan (see how far you can drive the nail into the stump with one swing) and scarecrow contests will both begin.

At the vendor fair, more than a dozen artists and crafters will sell their unique items. The Oktoberfest food will include brats, saurkraut, pork hock sandwiches, hot pretzels and more.

“There will be about eight types of food and 15 types of beer,” Winkleski noted. “We’ll have German beer as well as the hard apple ciders and hard rootbeer. We will also have water, coffee, hot apple cider and soda for the kids.”

The River City Ruckus band, an adult variety band, will play live music for the crowd from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. At 1:45, the La Crosse Oktoberfest Singers will perform for about 45 minutes. Then the Jim Busta Band, a popular polka collaboration from Onalaska, will headline Oktoberfest from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Throughout the day, an accordion player will be strolling through the grounds as well.

As the entertainment continues into the afternoon, a euchre tournament will start at noon at the memorial gardens. The button raffle winner will also be announced at that time. Oktoberfest buttons, which feature a fall design created by 11-year-old Gigi Darnell, of McGregor, are currently being sold for $2 apiece at city hall, Hoffman Hall and Driftless Edibles. By purchasing a button, your name will be placed into the drawing for a $100 cash prize.

New this year, at 1:30 p.m., is a beer stein holding contest, or “masskrugstemmen.” Winkleski said men and women are invited to try holding heavy steins for as long as they are able. The last one holding their glass stein will get to keep it for themselves.

At 2 p.m., the thrilling Color Run will begin at the Fourth Ward Shelter and weave around the grounds of Oktoberfest. Registration is from noon to 1:45 at the shelter or at pdcfallcolorrun.org in advance. Participants, wearing white T-shirts and sunglasses, will pass through several color stations where they will be sprayed, spattered and blasted with bright powder colors. Proceeds from this activity benefit the PdC Skateboard Park. For more information, contact Lorie Floyd at 412-2974.

Wrapping up the scarecrow contest, the winner will be announced at 3 p.m.

Finally, the new Canine Costume Contest, sponsored by Rivers and Bluffs Animal Shelter, will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Free registration will be at the RABAS booth following the morning’s parade until 2:30 p.m. Dogs do not need to be present at the time of registration. The contest will start at 3 p.m. and begin with a short walk to showcase the costumed canines. Vote for your favorite costumed canine with a donation to Rivers & Bluffs Animal Shelter. The dog that garners the most monetary votes will be declared the winner. Prizes will be awarded to the top three dogs. All pets need to be friendly, well-mannered and current on rabies vaccination.  DHLPP or DAP and bordetella vaccines are recommended. Flexi-leads and female dogs in heat are not allowed. For more information, call Bev Pozega at 326-2914.

“There are plenty of family events for different ages of people. I have a group of great community members who have helped improve the quality of Oktoberfest tremendously,” Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Director Mike Ulrich said. “The festival has evolved since the beginning but it’s always been family oriented; it isn’t just drinking beer.

“There’s also going to be a tent down there this year, so activities will go on rain or shine.”