Kane Co. Oktoberfest starts Friday

To many, Oktoberfest is synonymous with beer. In Kane County, it'll be about the beer and a whole lot more starting Friday.

Here's a fun look at how Kane County's first foray into an Oktoberfest compares with the real deal. An Oktoberfest here and there, if you will, with an assist from the City of Munich and the Department of Labor and Economic Development:

Number of expected visitors at Kane County's Oktoberfest: 30,000.

Number of visitors at the 2008 Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany: 6 million.

Length of Kane County Oktoberfest: 3 days, Friday through Sunday.

Length of the 2009 Oktoberfest in Munich: 16 days, Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

Amount of beer consumed at Kane County's Oktoberfest: To be determined.

Amount of beer consumed at the 2008 Oktoberfest in Munich: 6.5 million 1-liter mugs.

Area devoted to Kane County's first Oktoberfest: 22 acres at the Kane County Fairgrounds.

Area devoted to the 2009 Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany: 103.79 acres.

Amount of food consumed by Kane County's first Oktoberfest: TBD.

Amount of food consumed at the 2008 Oktoberfest in Munich: 459,356 roast chickens, 53,736 pig's knuckles, 104 oxen.

Nearby communities with their own version of Oktoberfest: Crystal Lake, Lake Villa, Naperville, Elgin and Itasca.

Where to go for more information on Kane County's Oktoberfest: kanecountyoktoberfest.com.