Oktoberfest set for this weekend
In celebration of autumn and in the grand spirit of Munich, Germany’s famous festival, the Plymouth Arts Center presents its sixth annual Plymouth Oktoberfest, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18-19.
Highlights of this year’s festival include lively, traditional music and dancing; German and American cuisine; a biergarten; bake sale; premiere of the Oktoberfest Juried Arts and Crafts Fair; clowns; arts and crafts and games for the kids; and the raffle of a new TNG Scooter.
There’ll be plenty of “Gemuetlichkeit,” (good cheer) to go around, and admission is free thanks to the supporting sponsors and friends of the arts.
The event will be held rain or shine in the Oktoberfest big top tent and biergarten located behind the Plymouth Center building.
On Friday afternoon from 3-6 p.m. get ready to polka on the wooden dance floor to the sounds of the Polka Potion band, immediately followed by the Copper Box Band featuring Danny and Michelle Jerabek and company from 6 to 9 p.m.
Saturday’s fun is kicked off with special performances by Plymouth High School’s Junge Kameraden (the only high school German band in the U.S,) under the direction of Jason Sebranek at 11 a.m., followed by Ernie Broeniman and the Dorf Kapelle, and the Jerry Schneider Orchestra, who will alternate throughout the day until 7:30 pm.
The menu for both days includes Spanferkel, Johnsonville brats, hamburgers, German potato salad, baked beans, sauerkraut, desserts, ice cream, and more. Take-outs available on all food items.
The annual “Big Bake Sale” by the G.F.W.C. Plymouth Woman’s Club will be held inside the building beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday and will continue until all is sold.
The Eagles Club will be holding a Sheepshead tournament on their North Street clubhouse grounds on Saturday in conjunction with Oktoberfest.
Also on Saturday, visit the booths of regional and local artists and crafters displaying and selling their wares throughout the festival grounds at the first Oktoberfest Juried Arts and Crafts Fair.
There will be plenty of activities for the children such as games with prizes, clowns, and art and crafts such as: "Paint Sunflowers on a T-shirt" with acrylics conducted by Plymouth artist Marlene Johnson. Students should bring a white t-shirt and an old painting shirt to wear over their clothing. Paint supplies will be furnished.
T-shirts can be purchased at Michael's in Sheboygan. Pre-registration is required for this activity. Class intended for children age 5 and up. Class fee is $5 per student and class is limited to 12 students.
Artist Liz Higgins also will be on hand to conduct “Make an Oktoberfest Head Wreath,” for a donation of $5, children or $10 for adults. For a schedule of all activities, please contact the PAC.
Raffle tickets for a new TNG Scooter are available now through the festival. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. The scooter raffle is partially underwritten by Roger Binder of Miller Power Equipment. Tickets are $5 each or 5 tickets for $20 and are available only at the Plymouth Arts Center, 520 E. Mill St.
This year marks the fourth appearance by Copper Box on the PAC Oktoberfest stage. Copper Box keeps the crowd hopping and the tent rocking with their unique blend of styles often described as “squeeze box rock” or, if you will, “polka-rock-Zydeco.”
Dorf Kapelle, (Village Band) under the direction of Ernie Broeniman, retired band director of Plymouth High School, has been performing at major heritage festivals throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota for over 20 years. The band was the recipient of the 1999 Cultural Heritage Award presented by the Wisconsin Polka Hall of Fame and was named one of the top five musical groups at Milwaukee’s Germanfest.
The Schneider Orchestra has been entertaining audiences with lively music for over thirty years, playing at summer picnics, county fairs, polka festivals, and for Milwaukee German Fest. In 1992, the group was selected to entertain at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. for “The Tribute to Germany” Festival.
The original Oktoberfest in Munich is the one of the largest celebrations in all of Europe. Millions of people from all over the globe attend it and there's no end to the merriment.
The first Oktoberfest was actually part of a marriage celebration when, in October of 1810, Bavarian King Max Joseph gave a huge wedding reception for Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, with the Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburg-hausen. It culminated with a series of horse races and gave rise to the tradition of the October festival, and in the following year, became an annual affair commemorating this grand wedding forevermore.
The Oktoberfest we know today evolved over time and incorporated a number of different traditions. The Munich Oktoberfest is now celebrated in September, because the chilly Bavarian October winds blowing from the Alps, can surprise with an early cold and snow.
The Plymouth Arts Center is seeking sponsorship in any amount from community members and businesses, and a volunteer team to help out as servers, bartenders, and set up/clean up crew. For more information, please call (920) 892-8409, email paf@excel.net or visit the Web site: www.plymoutharts.org.
The proceeds of this annual event will benefit the Plymouth Arts Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to its mission of… enlivening the spirit of the community and enriching the lives of all by presenting diverse experiences in the arts and also the Plymouth Center which continues to serve as a community center and hall available for private parties such as bridal and baby showers, birthday or anniversary parties, business meetings and seminars, etc.
Family, friends, neighbors, and having a great time at the beginning of autumn, is what Plymouth Oktoberfest is all about. Please join us for some old-fashioned Gemuetlichkeit, “Plymouth Style!”
