Beer, brats and bands: You'll find all three at Kane Co.'s first Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is traditionally about the beer, but at this year's inaugural Kane County Oktoberfest it may be the delicious Bavarian food that steals the show.
Planners for Oktoberfest promise a host of tantalizing German food like bratwurst and smoked pork loin with sauerkraut, made by expert chef Wolfgang Beyer of Schnitzel Platz restaurant in Glendale Heights.
Even if you're not feeling a frankfurter, Charlie Fox's Pizzeria will be on hand dishing up cheese, sausage and pepperoni pizza. They'll even have an "Oktoberfest special" pizza that has bratwurst, sausage, onion and sauerkraut. The traditional Oktoberfest beer Hofbräuhaus will be sold along with Bud, Bud Light, wine and wine coolers.
"The food (at Oktoberfest) will be above and beyond what you will find at your average festival," event coordinator Eric Iverson said. "The food will be an attraction in and of itself whereas at most festivals the food is more of an afterthought. Our food is what will be unique."
Beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, visitors can come out to 525 S. Randall Road, the location of the Kane County Fairgrounds, for a weekend filled to the brim with food and fun activities like a carnival and classic car show.
Admission into Oktoberfest is $7 and those 12 and younger get in free. The fest runs from 5 p.m. to midnight on Friday, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.
A classic car show featuring pre-1983 American made cars and trucks will be held from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday. Registration for the show runs from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and costs $20, which includes the price of festival admission. Carnival amusement rides will be set up the entire weekend.
"We always thought there was a void as far as a festival of this type in this area," Iverson said of Oktoberfest, which is a traditional fall festival held in Munich, Germany.
"Oktoberfest is traditionally based around live music, German food and people in traditional Bavarian dress. Our festival will be a little more contemporary in regards to the music but we will have a brass accordion band and people dressed up in lederhosen."
Five different bands will be performing throughout the weekend providing an eclectic mix of traditional rock and roll and traditional German music.
Iverson, 40, is owner of Charlie Fox's Pizzeria and considers himself and his fellow planners "students of Oktoberfest."
Plans have been underway for the Kane County Oktoberfest since January and Iverson has made trips up to Milwaukee for its German Fest and Beer Festival to get ideas for his own venture.
Iverson anticipates an upward of 30,000 visitors over the weekend. Oktoberfest will be held in the 22-acre parking area of the fairgrounds in enclosed tents that are climate controlled.
"We hope to this festival will grow every year. We hope to improve on it but as far as this year goes, it's going to be great," Iverson said.
<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=323330">While you're at Oktoberfest, check out the folk art festival <span class="date">[9/24/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>