43RD ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST
Where: The Dayton Art Institute, 456 Belmonte Park N, Dayton
When: Oktoberfest Lederhosen Lunch, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Oktoberfest Preview Party, 7-11 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26. Oktoberfest hours: noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
Why it ranks: Beer, bands, brats and Bavarian roasted nuts. There is a reason so many people collect Oktoberfest beer steins and T-shirts each year. So many great memories are created at Oktoberfest, a fundraiser for the DAI that has attracted 875,000 and raised $5 million since its inception in 1972.
Volunteers will serve about 50 craft, domestic German and Ohio beers including brews from Great Lakes, Konig, Warsteiner, Dayton’s Toxic Brew Company, Jackie O’s, Weihenstephan, Wyder’s Reposado, Arrogant Bastard and Carlsberg.
About 25 food vendors will participate, including Zombie Dogz, Bavarian Roasted Nuts, Juergen’s German Restaurant, Bakery & Kaffee Haus, The Original Strudel Factory, Bessie’s Noodles, OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ, Schmidt’s of German Village, Black Jack Grill/Pretzel Hut Bakery, Bourbon Street Grill & Café and Brock Masteron’s.
On the web: Click here for complete details.
How much will it cost you? Admission to the lunch is free. Advance tickets to the preview party are $45 for members and $60 for non-members. Gate admission is $80
Oktoberfest general admission tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors ages 60 and older and youth ages 7 to 18. Gate admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and youth.
Children 6 and younger are admitted free of charge.
Nick Clemens has learned a lot about brats, metts and Nathan’s brand hot dogs since 1988.
That’s the year the Kettering resident started coordinating crews of the Dayton Art Institute’s associate board alumni to sell the favorites at the museum’s Oktoberfest fundraiser.
This weekend alone, Clemens and the 130 volunteers he organizes will peddle 500 pounds of brats, 325 pounds of metts and 800 individual hot dogs during the 43rd event at the museum located at 456 Belmonte Park North in Dayton.
“For three days, that is a pretty good deal,” Clemens said.
In all, 4,000 links will be consumed at the festival that kicks off Friday, Sept. 26, with the Oktoberfest Lederhosen Lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Oktoberfest Preview Party from 7-11 p.m.
Oktoberfest hours are noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday.
How much will it cost?
Admission to the lunch is free. Brats, metts, hot dogs and beverages will be sold, and the Good Time Accordion Band will perform. RTA free shuttle service will be provided from surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Dayton. Stops will be located along Main, Fifth and Second streets.
Advance tickets to the preview party, which includes draft beer and wine is $45 for members and $60 for non-members. Gate admission is $80. Cincinnati-based party band The Menus will perform and museum galleries and the special exhibition Dayton Celebrates Glass will be open from 7-9 p.m.
Advance general admission tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for seniors ages 60 and older and youth ages 7 to 18. Gate admission is $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and youth.
Shuttle service will available from the University of Dayton parking lot on River Park Drive and downtown.
How does it come together?
DAI’s 64-member volunteer Associate Board organizes the annual Oktoberfest weekend with an army of 2,000 volunteers.
Oakwood’s Laura Woeste, who is chairing this year’s festival with her husband Jeff, said Oktoberfest is a showcase for the museum and the Dayton.
“It is really an exciting weekend for the Dayton community to come together,” she said. “We just really want people to come and enjoy the museum.”
The festival is the museum’s major fundraiser. It has attracted 875,000 and raised $5 million since its inception in 1972.
What to drink
Beer is a big Oktoberfest draw, and Woeste said there will be a lot of it.
“We celebrate all things Oktoberfest, and this year we are having more beer than ever before,” she said.
Volunteers will serve about 50 craft, domestic, German and Ohio beers, including selections from Great Lakes, Konig, Warsteiner, Dayton’s Toxic Brew Company, Jackie O’s, Weihenstephan, Wyder’s Reposado, Arrogant Bastard and Carlsberg.
The event will feature six beer trucks and three wine areas, including the weingarten and two craft beer trucks. Last year, there was one craft truck.
“Craft beer is so popular now,” Woeste said, explaining the extra truck.
International beer options include bottles ranging from $6 to $15 each including Bonsteels Triple Karmeliet, Grolsch and New Belgium Rampant IPA, and Old Speckled Hen. Most draft beers are $6.
Music, art, football and family activities
The work of more than 65 artisan exhibitors — ranging from jewelry to pottery — will be sold during Oktoberfest.
“The artisan tents will have a lot of really unique art from all over the region,” Woeste said.
The craft beer tent will house big-screen TVs showing football games.
There will be live music on the main stage and food tent stage from a list of acts that includes Rodney, Uncle Rico, The Chardon Polka Band, The Frank Svet Band, Kick-N-Flava, Spungewurthy, EuroMutts, Alpine Express and Alphorn Gruezie.
The band Stranger will perform from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Spungewurthy will close Oktoberfest from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
The weekend will be the last chance to view the special exhibit Dayton Celebrates Glass. Separate exhibit admission will be $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 7 to 17. Admission is free for museum members and children age 6 and younger.
A glass-themed FamilyFest will be a part of Oktoberfest to coincide with the exhibition.
Woeste said it includes family friendly art activities inside the museum.
“It is certainly something everyone can come and be a part of,” she said. “Kids get to check in. They get a passport and there are different activities for them to do throughout the museum.”
What to eat
Woeste said food will be available for nearly any taste.
“If German food isn’t your thing, there are lots of other options for you,” Woeste said.
About 25 food vendors will participate including Zombie Dogz, Bavarian Roasted Nuts, Juergen’s German Restaurant, Bakery & Kaffee Haus, The Original Strudel Factory, Bessie’s Noodles, OinkADoodleMoo Smoky BBQ, Schmidt’s of German Village, Black Jack Grill/Pretzel Hut Bakery, Bourbon Street Grill & Café and Brock Masteron’s.
Proceeds from the sale of brats, metts and dogs sold by Clemens and his volunteers go directly to the museum.
DAI is near and dear to Clemens’ heart.
The former trustee board member began taking art classes at age 6 and graduated its art school in 1966.
Oktoberfest “is a great event. It is necessary to keep it (the museum) alive,” Clemens said. “I’d love it if everybody in the world came out.”
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