Festival in Buffalo Grove celebrates Oktoberfest in August

Oktoberfest in August, one of the biggest Chicago-area German festivals, runs from Friday through Sunday, Aug. 18-20, at the Schwaben Center, 301 N. Weiland Road, Buffalo Grove.

The 140th annual summer festival is hosted by the Schwaben Verein of Chicago, a social and charitable club, under a big party tent, rain or shine.

The festival features German and domestic beer, bratwurst, German food, live entertainment, singers, dancers and a balloon man, among other activities.

Admission is $10; free for children and teens younger than 17, as are parking and entertainment.

Food, drink and amusement games require tickets sold on-site. A portion of Friday's proceeds will go to Ronald McDonald House Charities, while a portion of Saturday's and Sunday's proceeds will go to support local charities and nonprofits chosen by Schwaben Verein.

Schwaben Verein of Chicago was founded in 1878 as a mutual aid society for the many emigrants from "Schwaben," an area in Germany's southwest that is part of the German states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria.

It continues as a social and charitable club (Verein) for people with all kinds of middle European origins and connections.

For more festival information, visit www.oktoberfestinaugust.com, call (847) 344-1066, or email thespicemann@yahoo.com.