All things German to be part of festival
A full day of music and Wienerschnitzel are on tap Saturday as Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort brings some of Germany's finest fare to Bloomingdale.
The resort will host its first Oktoberfest family event from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at the resort's outdoor tent, 250 W. Schick Road.
A variety of German cuisine and brews will be featured, much to the delight of the resort's executive chef, Klauss Lotter.
"With my German background and heritage, I wanted to give Bloomingdale a taste of the world's most famous 'peoples' fest," Lotter said Tuesday.
"Oktoberfest celebrates the harvest and all of the hard work everyone had put into the season, much like our own team."
Resort spokesman Brian Beigel said the fest is being held in mid-October to separate it from the other fests that began in September.
"Most Oktoberfests are held in September, so we pushed this one back a little to give everyone one last fall party," Beigel said.
The event will feature live entertainment from The Johnny Wagner Band, which will perform German music from 1 to 4 p.m., followed by the German rock band Phenix, which will perform from 6:30 to 10 p.m.
There's also plenty of children's entertainment lined up between noon and 6 p.m. featuring Halloween-themed arts and crafts and a magic performance by Carl the Mystifier from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
"It will be a family event until 6 p.m. and then it switches to the adult themed celebration," Beigel said. "Parents can take the kids home and come back for the party."
The night will conclude with a raffle drawing at 9:30 p.m. to win two roundtrip tickets to anywhere in Europe.
General admission for the event is $5 for adults and free for children younger than 12. The resort is offering a $3 discount on pre-purchased tickets. People can make reservations by calling (630) 529-0200 or by visiting the Indian Lakes Resort Web site at www.indianlakesresort.com.
If you go
What: Hilton Chicago Indian Lakes Resort's Oktoberfest
When: Noon to 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: 250 W. Schick Road, Bloomingdale
Cost: General admission is $5 for adults and free for children younger than 12. The resort is offering a $3 discount on pre-purchased tickets.