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Lineup extended by added family day
![[A Samuel Adams-sponsored beer stein-hoisting contest will be part of Batavia Oktoberfest.]
BATAVIA – Eins, zwei, drei – the third annual Batavia Oktoberfest has added a day to the Bavarian style celebration of German music and food, creating a family day to cap the event which runs from Oct. 5 to 7.
The preliminary round of the beer stein-hoisting competition kicks off Sept. 22 at participating bars. The fest's bands on the main stage on North River Street will include Mike Knauf und Die Musikmeisters, The Johnny Wagner Band and Ed Wagner's Lustige Blaskapelle band.
From a children's concert to free pony rides and the debut of a Brat Trot 5K and fun run, the Sunday lineup will focus on the younger set.
"Everything happening on Sunday is all new," said Cathy McNally, director of development and special events for Batavia MainStreet, which hosts Oktoberfest under large tents with picnic table seating.
"We've tried to create an event that is going to appeal to many different demographics," she told Kane Weekend Editor Renee Tomell. The following is an edited version of the rest of their conversation, plus some tempting details about the authentic edibles that will be offered by Monika Merryman, the German-trained baker behind Monika's Organic Bakery.](670170b9-a4e0-4856-a2a3-c38584d0a3ba/image-pv_web.jpg)
[A Samuel Adams-sponsored beer stein-hoisting contest will be part of Batavia Oktoberfest.]
BATAVIA – Eins, zwei, drei – the third annual Batavia Oktoberfest has added a day to the Bavarian style celebration of German music and food, creating a family day to cap the event which runs from Oct. 5 to 7.
The preliminary round of the beer stein-hoisting competition kicks off Sept. 22 at participating bars. The fest's bands on the main stage on North River Street will include Mike Knauf und Die Musikmeisters, The Johnny Wagner Band and Ed Wagner's Lustige Blaskapelle band.
From a children's concert to free pony rides and the debut of a Brat Trot 5K and fun run, the Sunday lineup will focus on the younger set.
"Everything happening on Sunday is all new," said Cathy McNally, director of development and special events for Batavia MainStreet, which hosts Oktoberfest under large tents with picnic table seating.
"We've tried to create an event that is going to appeal to many different demographics," she told Kane Weekend Editor Renee Tomell. The following is an edited version of the rest of their conversation, plus some tempting details about the authentic edibles that will be offered by Monika Merryman, the German-trained baker behind Monika's Organic Bakery.
[There's lots to toot a horn about now that Batavia Oktoberfest has been extended to three days, running Oct. 5 to 7, capped by the addition of a family day.]
Renee Tomell: You've added more festival space along North River Street?
Cathy McNally: We'll have many tented areas …. The festival is getting a little longer, spreading out over an entire two-block section [with] more open areas sprinkled in – plenty of covered areas for seating [at] over a hundred tables.
Tomell: You've also lined up more parking?
McNally: This particular program [by] Batavia MainStreet has the biggest regional appeal. We have people that actually come from Chicago. We have partnered with private property owners downtown who graciously [have] allowed public parking in their space. We have [a] parking map on the website. We suggest parking on the west side and walking across the footbridge.
Tomell: Who's kicking off the fest?
McNally: Doug and Jamie Saam [are the] goodwill ambassadors – Herr und Frau Festmeister. They will be presenting the first chicken dance [and] assisting the mayor [Bürgermeister Jeff Schielke] in the tapping of the keg.
Tomell: For the beer stein-hoisting contest by presenting sponsor Samuel Adams, what's considered a long time to keep the one-liter stein aloft?
McNally: It's … one of a very few they do nationwide. We're fortunate to have this partnership with them – we're kind of proud of that. Five minutes is an incredibly awesome time. Seven minutes was the longest I've seen anybody go. At the national level, they're going 11. The best time [people] from each region … are sent to the national stein-hoisting [contest] in Las Vegas.
[The Johnny Wagner Band again will be part of the musical lineup at Oktoberfest in Batavia.]
Tomell: Besides Monika's Organic Bakery, who else will be providing Oktoberfest food and drink; and is the Saturday morning farmers' market displaced from its normal spot?
McNally: The Wurst Kitchen from Aurora is returning with a full menu. Pal Joey's is also vending food. Gaetano's [offers] wine and cocktails. The farmers' market will be relocated a little further down on North River Street.
Tomell: Monika, what menu items will you feature?
Monika Merryman: Schnecken, sugar-glazed German cinnamon rolls [named after snails because of their spiral shape]. I'll make wrapped … German gingerbread hearts – lebkuchen – on a ribbon [that can be worn like a necklace]. Or give it to your sweetheart – what we would do over there.
Tomell: What's the secret to your pretzels?
Monika: A long fermentation process gives a lot of flavor [and] I sprinkle sea salt from the Canary Islands. I'll parbake them – and when ordered will run them through a conveyor toaster – they will be hot when they come out.
[Dirndls and lederhosen will be the attire of choice at Batavia Oktoberfest running Oct. 5 to 7, and expanded by the addition of a family day. A costume contest is part of the fun.]
Tomell: Cathy, you've found a way to keep football fans happy?
McNally: We partnered with Bar Evolution and Olmstead's TV & Appliance. We'll have a football viewing zone [for] people that like to watch football set up on the [bar's] outside patio area – multiple screens.
Tomell: What is planned for Sunday's family day?
McNally: We're going to start at 9:30 a.m. with a community faith service [organized by] the interfaith council. We have about four area churches, including the Logan Street Baptist Church choir, [which] is going to be performing.
We have our first annual Brat Trot 5K. The 5K race is going to begin at 10 a.m. [with] a kids dash fun run [at 9:45 a.m.]. Besides a really cool T-shirt … all the runners will get … a bratwurst. Adults will get a beer. And the kids will get a rootbeer after the race. The … food booths will open up [by] 11 a.m. Sunday.
We have engaged a kids performer for the stage, Miss Carol's Macaroni Soup [at noon, and then will] switch to more traditional German music. Farther down the street [from 1 to 5 p.m.], we're going to [have] free pony rides…petting zoo, bounce house, facepainting, lots of games and activities – all free.
Families are always welcome to all of our events. We have kids dancing [at] the stage Friday and Saturday … some of the local dance studios [give] chicken dance lessons in costume. We try to incorporate a lot of kid-friendly activities throughout … especially during the daytime hours.
Tomell: The fest is designed to help support local nonprofits?
McNally: We partner with all of our community groups. People that come will see the Batavia Woman's Club, Batavia Mothers' Club, … [real estate agents] that collect tips for CHIP IN Batavia, the Kiwanis Club. [The] groups come in with 30 volunteers that they line up. All the tips they collect [while] serving beer they get to keep for their organization.
Tomell: Any advice on attire?
McNally: Everybody is encouraged to wear traditional Oktoberfest… dirndls and lederhosen. It's always fun.
Beer stein-hoisting contest schedule
The preliminary rounds for the Samuel Adams beer stein-hoisting contest begin two weeks before Batavia Oktoberfest. At the festival, separate qualifying rounds for women and men will be held Oct. 5 in the evening, followed by the finals Oct. 6.
Sept. 22
• Pal Joey’s, 7 to 9 p.m.
• Wilson Street Tavern, 8 to 10 p.m.
• Bar Evolution, 9 to 10:30 p.m.
Sept. 28
• Bulldog's Cellar, 8 to10 p.m.
Sept. 29
• Gammon Coach House, 6 to 8 p.m.
• River's Edge Bar & Grill, 8 to 10 p.m.
If you go
WHAT: Batavia Oktoberfest
WHEN: 4:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 5; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 6; and 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 7
WHERE: North River Street, north of Wilson Street, downtown Batavia
COST: Admission is free, with food and drink sold at the event
INFO: downtownbatavia.com/oktoberfest