Oktoberfest in Mt Angel

The four-day event draws people from up and down the West Coast and around the U.S. to watch entertainers who come from as far as The Bronx, N.Y., and Germany, said Monica Bochsler, public relations director for the festival.

Festivities start downtown Thursday at noon with the Webertanz, or May pole dance, which features Mount Angel schoolchildren performing a variety of traditional Bavarian dances.

Opening ceremonies take place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the bandstand, which is located downtown near City Hall on Charles Street.

by: JEFF MCDONALD - Two of the festival's organizers, Chris Bischoff and Monica Bochsler, stand in front of the main Festhalle, or Biergarten, last week in Mount Angel.

Daily entertainment will include Donaumusikanten, a six-person group from Germany that has performed at the festival for 22 years. This year, the group requested a crosscut saw for their show, Bochsler said.

“They always put on a great show,” she said. “They keep the place hopping.”

Donaumusikanten will play throughout the festival, including daily in the Weingarten from 8:30 p.m. to close.

Oktoberfest’s headliner, Die Schlauberger, AKA “the Wise Guys,” are from The Bronx, but pull off the German act like no other, Bochsler said. The group will play Friday and Saturday in the Biergarten starting at 9 p.m. and in the Weingarten Sunday at 1 and 5:30 p.m.

“They really rock the place,” she said.

Food and drink will be in abundance at Oktoberfest with 17 different beers on tap plus about 27 different German and Northwest wines. There also will be a variety of gluten-free and nonalcoholic beers, as well as ciders, Bischoff said.

For families, the Oktoberfest event will have it all, including admission for children in the Alpinegarten until close, according to Bischoff.

“We did not want to kick the kids out with their families,” Bischoff said.

Another way kids are involved this year is through their involvement in local entertainment. A group of 21 first-graders from St. Mary’s Public School will be performing German dances each day at noon in full Bavarian dress in front of the bandstand downtown.

Kids have been practicing for many weeks running up to the activity.

Kids also will find fun and free activities at the Kindergarten at St. Mary’s Public School, which will have a mix of pony rides, face painting, juggling and magic acts performing Saturday and Sunday.

Do not forget the Wiener Dog races, either, which will be held Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

Check out the festival’s website at www.oktoberfest.org for a complete list of activities and entertainment at the festival.