Neighborhood News

Minerva’s Oktoberfest set for Sept. 26 in Municipal Park

Celebrate fall at Minerva's Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26, noon to 8 p.m., in Municipal Park with live music, food, crafters, children's activities, contests for all ages, a beer garden, craft breweries, and a winery. There is no admission fee for the festival.

Live music begins at noon with Visinata, playing polkas and other tunes, followed by Kindred Roots, at 3:30 p.m.

Family activities will include free pumpkin painting sponsored by Edward Jones Investments, Diane Walker Evans, a free hayride sponsored by JB Tire, a Lost French Golf scavenger hunt provided by Bartley Funeral Home with a gold nugget grand prize, a free bounce house sponsored by Pat Miller, pumpkin bowling, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more.

Scarecrows for the scarecrow contest will be constructed Friday, Sept. 25, with judging taking place Sept. 26 at 9 a.m.

Entries for the pie-baking contest, sponsored by Jim & Linda Crouse, must be in by noon, with adult, teen and youth categories. The beer stein slide returns this year, and will be open throughout the festival. Sack races, sponsored by Medicine Center Pharmacy, will begin at 1:30 p.m., followed by a Hammerschlagen contest, new this year and sponsored by Hawes Tree Service, at 2:30 p.m. The Dress-Your-Dog contest, sponsored by Coy-Kamph Financial Group, will take place at 3 p.m.

A pretzel eating contest, sponsored by Kishman's IGA, will take place at 5 p.m., followed by the beer-stein lifting contest, sponsored by Loudon Motors Ford, at approximately 6 p.m., with divisions for men and women. The person who can hold a full beer stein parallel to the ground with an extended arm for the longest time will be proclaimed the winner.

The beer obstacle course competition will begin at 6:30 p.m., and several rounds of chicken poop bingo will take place throughout the day.

A variety of food trucks will be available, a beer garden selling Miller products, Tipsy Farmer Winery, margaritas from Que Pasa, as well as craft beers from Sandy Springs Brewing Company, Aeonian Brewing Company, and Starflyer Brewing Company.

Crafters, businesses, and community groups will have wares for sale and information available throughout the festival.

For information, call the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce office at 330-868-7979, or e-mail Nathan.meadows@minervachamber.org.