Oompah! Oktoberfest tradition continues in Naperville
Sometimes it's fun to pretend you're in a giant beer tent in Munich, hoisting a beer stein into the air, toasting life and autumn the way Bavarians do.
For the past 15 years, an annual homage to the nearly 200-year-old German tradition has been carried out locally, courtesy of the Rotary Clubs of Naperville.
The 16th annual Oktoberfest opens Friday night and continues through Sunday afternoon under a heated tent in a downtown Naperville parking lot.
It's not just another food and music fest, organizer Bill Garlough said. Naperville's Oktoberfest is infused with cultural tradition that gives the event a distinct ambience.
"It's not a copy-cat event. It's got its own character," he said. "It creates a different atmosphere."
As a Rotarian, Garlough has been involved with the annual festival since it began in 1992.
As a businessman, he's been involved with bringing hearty German fare to Naperville Oktoberfest tables since the festival's inception. Garlough co-owns My Chef Catering with his wife, Karen.
"My wife and I both have German ancestry. We're able to tap into that," he said. "(Karen) grew up with people who worked with family recipes, so she knows the style."
Visitors will find grilled sausages, bratwurst and all-beef hot dogs on the menu.
"We'll do 10,000 of those over the weekend," he said.
A new entree this year is a boneless, skinless chicken breast.
"That would be for the healthy crowd," Garlough said.
The menu also includes sauerkraut and German potato salad.
"It's a hot German potato salad, which is more vinegar-based, not mayonnaise-based," he said.
Desserts will include apple strudel and German chocolate cake.
The beer selection will offer domestic favorites along with German imports such as Warsteiner. Wine also will be offered, along with a choice of several soft drinks.
Because the event is a fundraiser for Naperville's three rotary clubs, Garlough said My Chef provides the food at cost. Other merchants also provide donations or low-cost items, he said. And the festival is overseen by a raft of volunteers who do everything from serving food to taking tickets to cleaning up after revelers.
Proceeds from Oktoberfest are funneled to about 20 local nonprofit charities, he said.
Since Oktoberfest began, he said, more than $1 million has been raised for area organizations. The goal for this year's event, which is expected to bring in between 10,000 and 15,000 paid visitors, is about $75,000, he said.
The festivities include dancing, live music and children's activities from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
"The event itself has been named the best fall festival for several years," Garlough said. "Friday and Saturday night tends to be more adults. Sunday is family day."
Before the festival gets rolling Friday, Oktoberfest weekend will open with a new event, a live auction titled "Rotary Shares" set to begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Meson Sabika.
Bidders can compete for catered dinners, weekend getaways, tennis-themed vacations, even a guaranteed parking space in downtown Naperville.
"We now have about $50,000 in donated items," said Chuck Bokar, auction chairman.
Tickets to the auction are $100 per person, a fee that includes open bar and tapas dishes.
The auction was added to bolster the amount Naperville's rotary clubs can donate, Bokar said.
"One of the new goals we set is to double the amount of funding that we have for our local nonprofits," he said.
Bokar said the evening's festivities will begin with a nod to Germany's Oktoberfest custom of having the mayor ceremoniously set the beer flowing.
"Mayor Pradel is expected to come by to tap the first keg," he said.
If you go
What: Oktoberfest, organized by the Rotary Clubs of Naperville
When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; 5:30 p.m. Thursday charity auction at Meson Sabika
Where: Paw Paw parking lot, corner of Main Street and Van Buren Avenue, Naperville
Admission: $5; free for ages 12 and under Sunday
Info: rotaryoktoberfest.com