Scarecrows, live music and more at East Dundee’s Oktoberfest Sept. 27-28
East Dundee’s sixth annual Oktoberfest will feature a scarecrow contest, family activities, and live music with some of the best headliners in the area on Sept. 27-28.
Local businesses and organizations are decorating scarecrows that will be displayed on the Depot grounds throughout the festival. This fun activity offers a way for businesses and organizations to promote themselves and take part in the fall festivities.
The contest is back by popular demand. Vote by giving your favorite scarecrow a “like’ or “love” on facebook.com/eastdundeeoktoberfest/. Scarecrows will be judged based on the number of “likes/loves” received to their photo after being posted on Thursday, Sept. 26. The final counts will be tallied at noon on Sunday, Sept. 29.
Festival hours will be 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Depot, 319 N. River St. Admission is free.
Music stage
On Friday, the Polkaholics will be combining polka and rock 'n roll from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by Who's Bad, the Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, headlining the stage from 8 to 10 p.m. STAR 105.5 will be doing a live broadcast with morning radio personality Joe Cicero from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
On Saturday, the Ed Wagner's Brass Band will be playing a mix of traditional German and American Polka songs from 2 to 4 p.m. LP Vinyl will be bringing their Journey tribute to East Dundee at 5 p.m. Gabriel Sanchez will be bringing The Prince Experience on Saturday. from 8 to 10 p.m.
Family fun
There will be free inflatables fun from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Stop by the Touch-a-Truck from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday. There will be free face painting by the Funky Brush & Palette and balloon twisting from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. The Scarecrow Stilt Walker will be traveling around the festival grounds from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Food and beverages
Vendors include: Dairy Queen, DC Cobb's, Duke's BBQ (at the Caboose), Happy's Bavarian Gourmet Soft Pretzels, River Street Tavern, Rosie O'Hare's, and Tequila Val's, as well as baked goods from the VFW.
Black & Gray Brewing Co. will be offering their Oktoberfest Beer. There also will be beverage sales by River Street Tavern & Rosie O'Hare's. You must be 21 or older; free wristband required.
The beer stein holding contest will be at 7 p.m. in front of the big stage.
Free shuttles
There will be free shuttle service running both nights with first pickup at 4:30 p.m. and last one at 10:15 p.m. The shuttle will occur every 15 minutes between Carpentersville Middle School, 100 Cleveland Ave. in Carpentersville, and Barrington Avenue, near the village hall.
In addition to street parking around the downtown area, there are public lots located behind 311 Barrington Ave.; off Main Street next to Dairy Queen/Dundee Music; behind the Caboose (enter from Hill Street); and at the AT&T parking lot at Jackson and Water streets. On Friday night only, there will be parking at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 310 E. Main St.