A large selection of German biers, themed beers from breweries in Griffith and German music and food are among the attractions at Griffith Oktoberfest.
Established in 2014, the annual event takes place, rain or shine, from Oct. 6-8 at Central Park in Griffith.
“We have added more German food. We’ve bumped up the entertainment value with a whole lot of German authentic bands. Most importantly, we’ve expanded the size of the festival significantly to accommodate many more patrons comfortably,” said Griffith Town Council President Rick Ryfa, R-3rd.
“I would say it’s 40 percent bigger, maybe more. There’s more people and we’ve got more food vendors this year.”
The count is up from approximately 10 in 2016 to 15 food vendors for 2017.
“They’re from all over. We have Jedi’s Garden from in town once again. It’s the most popular food booth. They put out authentic German food with wiener schnitzel, their signature,” said Ryfa, adding that the locally owned family restaurant also had soups and other German-type food at 2016’s event.
“We’ve got a new vendor, Ste. Marie Concessions from Shelby, coming in that will have spaetzle, German dumplings.”
Other food includes bratwurst, cabbage soup, desserts, homemade chicken and dumplings, hamburgers, hot dogs, Hungarian beef stew, Italian beef, German chocolate cake, German potato salad, pierogi, pizza, Polish sausages, pretzels, barbecue and pork spare ribs, and sauerkraut.
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Drinks include German biers and wines plus Oktoberfest craft beers from Griffith craft breweries New Oberpfalz Brewing, Pokro Brewing Co. and Wildrose Brewing Co.
Calumet Breweries, of Hammond, also provides selections while Beck’s, Budweiser, Bud Light, Hoegaarden, Leffe, Okocim, Rhinegeist, Stella Artois and St. Pauli Girl are among some of the brands available.
“Every year we try to make it more authentic to what it would be like at a real Oktoberfest. It’s a unique thing,” said Ryfa, of Griffith.
Helping with that goal is the entertainment featuring performers returning from 2016’s event.
Deutsche Meister Band plays at 4 p.m. and Die Musikmeisters German Band performs at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6.
“We will have the pleasure of having the guy who founded the band out there,” said Ryfa about Die Musikmeisters, which is led by Mike Knauf.
“Saturday and Sunday we’ve got the same bands playing twice but at different hours. German Band is a crowd favorite. They feature a 20-piece band. They’ve got the big, long alphorns. Ed Wagner’s is about a 10-piece band. They’re excellent and entertaining, and it’s a lot of interaction with the crowd.”
The German Band performs at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 7 and 5 p.m. Oct. 8 while Ed Wagner’s Lustige Blaskapelle plays at 7 p.m. Oct. 7 and 2 p.m. Oct. 8.
Even if the weather does not cooperate for Oktoberfest, attendees can take in the music in the expanded family beer garden, which is enclosed and heated in the pavilion.
“A lot of festivals have created an atmosphere where Griffith has become a destination place,” said Ryfa about the special events Griffith offers.
Oktoberfest is not only for adults. Activities in the Kids Zone include train barrel rides, bounce houses and a pumpkin patch. Pumpkin decorating is available from 2-6 p.m. or while supplies last Oct. 7-8.
Oct. 7 also features Princess Day from 2-5 p.m., Anna and Elsa performing at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. and a children’s costume concert at 3:30 p.m. while Oct. 8 also includes Superhero Day from 2-6 p.m.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Griffith Oktoberfest
When: 4-11 p.m. Oct. 6; 2-11 p.m. Oct. 7; 2-9 p.m. Oct. 8
Where: Central Park, 600 N. Broad St., Griffith
Admission: Free admission
Information: 219-924-7500, Ext. 231; www.facebook.com/griffithoktoberfest