Beer, brats and bicycling highlight 9th annual Palatine Oktoberfest
The Rotary Club of Palatine will bring a touch of Munich to the village's downtown this weekend when it hosts its 9th annual Oktoberfest celebration featuring authentic German music, food, beverages and activities for all ages.
The festival, which serves as a fundraiser to help Rotary support local charities and community projects, begins at 5 p.m. Friday and continues through Sunday at the corner of Smith and Slade streets, south of the Metra train station.
Mayor Jim Schwantz will kick off the event by officiating over the blessing and tapping of the keg ceremony.
"Beer is a large component of any Oktoberfest celebration," Oktoberfest Co-Chairman Jeff Johnson said. Among the offerings: Schofferhofer Grapefruit, Radeberger, Dab, and two locally brewed beers from the Wild Onion Brewing Company in Lake Barrington; "Oktoberfest" and "Hefty-Weiss."
Food vendors include Heybeck's Meat Market, Tre Amici Pizza, Edelweiss Delicatessen & Catering, Rockin Rodizio, Partners for Our Community and the Sons of the American Legion. Heybeck's will be providing bratwurst, a leberkase sandwich and a pig platter, as well as more traditional burgers, BBQ and ribs. Rockin Rodizio will have their turkey leg, pork chop, chicken and pig candy. Tre Amici will be serving cheese and sausage pizzas, as well as a specialty pizza. Edelweiss will be serving pretzels, a chicken schnitzel sandwich, bratwurst and a variety of salads. The American Legion will be adding corn, baked potatoes and landjaeger sausage to the Oktoberfest food offerings.
For sweets, Morkes Chocolates will have a variety of caramel apples, spiced doughnuts and chocolate bars.
Pop and water, as well as popcorn, will also be available for purchase from volunteers supporting The Partners for Our Community.
Musical entertainment will kick off Friday night with Paloma Band from 5-7:45 p.m., followed by Phenix from 8 p.m. to midnight. On Saturday, entertainment includes Die Musikmeisters performing from 3:30-7:30 p.m., followed by Phenix from 8 p.m. to midnight. The musical lineup Sunday features Die Musikmeisters on stage from noon to 2:45 p.m., followed by Johnny Wagner performing from 3-6 p.m.
Saturday is Family Day and will kick off with an Oktoberfest Family Bike Ride sponsored by the Bike Palatine Club. Registration is at 11 a.m. Saturday at the corner of Smith and Slade streets, and the ride starts at 11:30 a.m. Visit www.bikepalatine.com for more information.
Games and activities for Family Day continue from noon to 3 p.m. with face painting, police and fire department displays, balloon art, children's raffle prizes and project building by Home Depot. On stage will be musical performances starting at noon by Palatine High School and Plum Grove Junior High orchestras, as well as the Quest Academy Choir. Bonnie Lindholm School of Dance will entertain with dance demonstrations and JP Wood Martial Arts will provide a martial arts demonstration.
At approximately 1 p.m., the winners of Scarecrows on Parade, a scarecrow decorating contest sponsored by the village, will be announced. The Palatine 150 Committee will then announce the nine winners of the District 15 Sesquicentennial Poster Contest.
The Rotary Club will be selling raffle tickets for the chance to win one of 24 baskets, each valued at more than $500. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five tickets, and the drawing will take place at 5 p.m. Sunday. Winners do not have to be present.
"We had generous donations this year of over $36,000, which helped us make a great array of raffle baskets," said Ed Fee, Oktoberfest co-chairman. "Highlights include a Weber grill, as well as various wine, liquor and merchant baskets."
For a complete schedule of events and to learn more about The Rotary Club of Palatine, visit at www.palatinerotary.com/Oktoberfest or email oktoberfest@palatinerotary.com.