Glendale Heights Oktoberfest returns for ninth year with German music, food and beer
After canceling last year due to the pandemic, the ninth annual Glendale Heights Oktoberfest returns Sept. 16-26 to Camera Park, 101 E. Fullerton Ave.
Experience live entertainment daily including strolling German “Oompah” entertainers and sample a selection of German beers and food under the big tent. To round out the Glendale Heights Oktoberfest experience, there will be vendors with German products, souvenirs, hats, steins, and more.
Festival hours are: 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays, noon to midnight Saturdays, and noon to 10 p.m. Sundays. Admission after 5 p.m. is $5 or free for youth, age 16 or younger. Oktoberfest is covered by a spacious tent which allows you to enjoy the annaul festival, rain or shine. Parking is free.
The festival opens with a performance by Alpine Thunder at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 16. The Alpine folk/pop German band will return at 5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20, and 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24.
The Elmhurst College Jazz Band will perform at 6 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 17 and 24.
The Tempos will perform German-American music at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17; 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18; 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, as well as both Sunday afternoons.
The Chicago area polka band Ray Koncar & The Boys will be performing at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.
On Sundays, Sept. 19 and 26, the Illinois Brass Band will open the day's festivities with music at 12:30 p.m.
Paloma performs a wide variety of classic German songs, new German hits, oldies, country and classic standards at 6 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 19 and 26; and 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. The band also will follow the Elmhurst Jazz Band on Friday, Sept. 24.
The polka band, Eddie Korosa Jr. and The Boys from Illinois, will perform at 5 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, Sept. 21-23.
The menu includes Schnitzel sandwich with grilled onions, German bratwurst and roll, roasted chicken, or a footlong Frankfurter Würstchen with roll. These combos include a choice of one side (German potato salad or sauerkraut). There also will be large German pretzels and pork shank with sauerkraut. The children's menu includes hot dogs, chicken nuggets, chips, beverage and treats.
For information, visit www.glendaleheightsoktoberfest.com or www.facebook.com/GlendaleHeightsOktoberfest/.