Naperville Oktoberfest celebrates all things German

It's been more than a decade since Don and Bambi Redemeier made the trip to Germany for Oktoberfest, but the couple still gets a taste of it every year in Naperville.

"Theirs (in Munich) is really amazing, but it still kind of reminds of us that," said Bambi Redemeier of Lisle.

The Redemeiers wore German-themed sweatshirts as they sipped beer and waited for the music to start at the Oktoberfest celebration at Naper Settlement Saturday.

The festival drew several hundred people Friday night and the Naperville Heritage Society hoped for at least that many Saturday.

While the weather wasn't cooperating, a large tent kept festival goers dry and warm.

The Naperville Rotary Club used to run the event, but Naperville Heritage Society recently took it over and scaled it back a bit at least for this year. John Buckley, the settlement's director of institutional advancement, said it is a good fit.

"For us it was an event that fit in our schedule and fit in our mission as a history museum with Naperville's German history and heritage," he said.

The fest featured music from local bands, a menu that included bratwurst, German potato salad and sauerkraut, and some German beer to wash it all down.

Mike Hubbard of Naperville attended both days of Oktoberfest. On Saturday, he and his friends sat under the large tent playing cards as they waited for the bands to start.

"Good food, good beer, good times," Hubbard said.

Saturday's lineup included August, Nomo Mojo and One More Time.

August baritone saxophone player Jim DeSalvo said Naperville festivals provide great exposure for local bands and he hopes to also play other events like Last Fling and Ribfest in the future.

Cindy and Ben Sanchez of Schaumburg were at Oktoberfest to volunteer, but were also able to take a break to enjoy the food.

"Delicious," said Cindy Sanchez, who is three-quarters German. "The brats out of this world."