Raise a glass this weekend at Palatine Oktoberfest
Get ready to party, German-style. The Rotary Club of Palatine will hold its 11th annual Oktoberfest Friday through Sunday, Sept. 14-16, on the corner of Smith and Slade in downtown Palatine, south of the Metra train station.
This free, tented event features authentic German music, food, beverages and activities for all ages. Hours are 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
“We kick off the festival on Friday at 5 p.m.,” said Cindy Stoeckel, Oktoberfest chairwoman. “One of our village officials will officiate over the blessing and tapping of the keg ceremony, which will start our Oktoberfest celebration. Come party in your lederhosen and dirndl.”
The beer
“Everyone knows beer is a large component of any Oktoberfest celebration,” Stoeckel said.
“There are a number of beers being poured this year — Krombacher Pils, which is an imported, full-flavored, German pilsner, along with four great beers brewed locally at the Wild Onion Brewing Company in Lake Barrington. (Those include) ‘Oktoberfest' German-style lager; ‘Hefty-Weiss' Bavarian-style Hefe-Weizen; Kolsch, a crisp, clean German ale; and, for those who like something different, there is the refreshing mix of beer and grapefruit called the Anti-Venom Radler. Wine lovers will have three flavors to choose from — riesling, merlot and pinot grigio.”
The food
The event will also feature authentic German food, as well as local fare, from vendors including Heybeck's Meat Market, Tre Amici Pizza, Morkes Chocolates, Partners for Our Community, Tap House Grill, Woodstock Pretzel, Signature Popcorn, the Sons of the American Legion, Friends of the Rotary and Kooker's.
Heybeck's will be providing bratwurst, a leberkase sandwich and a pig platter, as well as more traditional burgers, barbecue and ribs. Tre Amici will be serving cheese and sausage pizzas, as well as a specialty pizza. Kooker's will be providing a variety of German foods.
Tap House Grill will have pretzels with beer cheese and spicy mustard, deep fried schnitzel pork bites and sauerbraten pot roast sliders. Morkes will have a variety of caramel apples, spiced doughnuts and chocolate bars. Pop and water, as well as popcorn, will also be available for purchase from volunteers supporting Partners for Our Community.
Woodstock Pretzels will be serving hot pretzels made on-site. Signature Popcorn will be providing specialty popcorn, ice cream and cotton candy. The American Legion will be providing corn on the cob, as well as baked potatoes, and to complete the meal the Friends of the Rotary will be cooking brats and hot dogs.
The music
Musical entertainment will kick off Friday night with Phenix from 6 p.m. to midnight. Saturday's entertainment includes Die Musikmeisters from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by Phenix from 8 p.m. to midnight. The musical lineup on Sunday features Die Musikmeisters on the stage from noon until 2:45 p.m., followed by Johnny Wagner from 3 to 6 p.m.
Family Day
This year, Family Day will kick off with an Oktoberfest Family Bike Ride sponsored by the Bike Palatine Club on Saturday morning at the corner of Smith and Slade streets. Registration is at 11 a.m. on the day of the event, followed by the ride, which runs until 12:30 p.m. Visit www.bikepalatine.com for information. The Bridge Youth & Family Services will also be hosting a Color Run on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Go to www.bridgeyouth.org for details.
Games and activities for Family Day will continue from noon to 4 p.m. with Positive Strokes providing face painting, police and fire department displays, children's raffle prizes and project building by Home Depot.
On stage will be musical performances starting at noon with Palatine High School and later Sundling sound. Vest Dance Troupe and Bonnie Lindholm School of Dance will entertain with dance demonstrations and JP Wood Martial Arts will provide a martial arts demonstration.
At approximately 1 p.m., the winners of Scarecrows on Parade, a scarecrow decorating contest sponsored by the village of Palatine, will be announced.
“We will be selling raffle tickets for the chance to win one of 24 wine, liquor and merchant baskets, as well as flat screen televisions, each valued at over $500,” said Stoeckel.
“We also have four wheelbarrows of beer and a Weber grill. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for 5 tickets, and the drawing will be on Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. Winners do not have to be present.”
View a complete schedule of events and learn more about The Rotary Club of Palatine at www.palatinerotary.com/Oktoberfest, on Facebook or email oktoberfest@palatinerotary.com. Money raised at Oktoberfest helps support charities and community projects.
The Rotary motto is Service Above Self — in the community and throughout the world. The Rotary Club of Palatine meets Tuesdays at 7:15 a.m. at the Red Apple Pancake House. Email info@palatinerotary.com for details.