Downers Grove youth to compete in brat-eating contest at annual Oktoberfest
The eighth annual Downers Grove Oktoberfest returns Friday and Saturday, Sept. 17-18.
The fundraiser for the Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 will be held from 3 to 11 p.m. Friday and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday under a huge tent in the parking lot of the downtown train station, 5001 Main St.
There will be German food, beverages, and live bands. From 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, a Kids Zone will feature family fun for all ages, including face painting, glitter tattoos, petting zoo, crafts and more.
Enjoy authentic Oktoberfest food and beverages in a traditional German atmosphere, including bratwurst or knackwurst with grilled onions or sauerkraut; chicken schnitzel and gravy with potato pancake, applesauce and German potato salad; giant Bavarian soft pretzel with cheese or mustard; roasted corn; apple strudel; and German chocolate cake. The menu is subject to change. There also will be a kids' meal with hot dog, chips and drink.
Some of the brews will be: Tangled Roots Vermillion River Weiss; Hacker Pshorr; Sam Adams Oktoberfest; Paulaner Oktoberfest; Revolution Oktoberfest; and Miller Lite.
Sebastian Bach, the original voice of Skid Row, takes the stage at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Limited tickets for this performance are $25.
On Friday, there will be DJ: Angel Song Entertainment featuring Stephen Peterson; DJ Coach Josh from 3 to 5 p.m.; Thrill Pill performing rock, pop, country and alternative music from 5 to 6:30 p.m.; Dazzlin' Dawn country line dancing from 6:30 to 7 p.m.; Send in the Clones performing rock, pop and alternative music from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; DJ Stephen Peterson from 8:30 to 9 p.m.; and The Lounge Puppets, a 1980s hairband, from 9 to 11 p.m.
On Saturday, DJ: Angel Song Entertainment will feature Tina Messmer-King; Frank K & Company featuring Oktoberfest music, from 2 to 4 p.m.; Wayne Messmer Quartet from 4:30 to 6 p.m.; TARRA performing Latin sounds from 7 to 8:30 p.m.; and TKO Acoustics from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Also on Saturday, there will be a brat-eating contest between Downers Grove North and South from 4 to 4:30 p.m.
95.9 The River's live remote broadcast, featuring Danielle Tufano, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Festival tickets, which will be sold at the event, are $10 for age 18 or older; $15 with beer stein for 21 or older; or $5 for seniors. Kids, age 17 and younger, are free with a paying adult. Admission is also free for active military and veterans with military ID.