GOSHEN —
The commemorative beer steins will be ready, the German potato salad will be warmed and the beer tent will be raised as St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Goshen revives Oktoberfest Saturday.
The church, located at 117 W. Monroe St., will kick off its traditional German festival for the 21 and older crowd that day.
Oktoberfest committee member Pat Schneider said that it’s been 10 to 15 years since the church has had Oktoberfest. Talk started again a while ago about reviving the festival. He and three other committee members began planning
“It’s a little different than in the past,” Schneider said. “Before it was inside, now it’s outside. And before there was only polka (music).”
The band Box Set will perform more popular music this year. Polka lovers shouldn’t fret, though. In between the band’s sets, polka music will be piped through the speakers.
Organizers wanted to make the event more like a traditional German festival, he said.
For $25 per person, festival-goers can get into the festival, to take place at St. John’s playground area, and have their fill of German wieners, beer-bathed brats, German potato salad, potato pancakes and more, plus receive a commemorative stein.
Food will start being served at 6 p.m. German beer will also be on tap.
Schneider cautioned people that they should arrive early if they want food. Food will be served only until about 7:30 p.m. The live band, Box Set, will start performing after that.
Ben’s Soft Pretzels will also be selling its jumbo soft pretzels at the event.
The event is open to the public and tickets may be obtained at the St. John’s office at 117 W. Monroe St. Goshen, or at the gate. More information can be obtained by e-mailing akl1111@comcast.net.
St. John the Evangelist church is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the area. All proceeds from the event will go to the St. John’s school tuition assistance fund.
About Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest was first celebrated in Germany on Oct. 12, 1810, and was a one-day event. In 1819 the town of Munich took the festival over and wanted to increase the length of the event. The town decided that because the days are longer and warmer in September, the event would start late September and end in October.
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