Well, it's Oktoberfest Time Again!    Plan to join us this year for Rockford's 47th Oktoberfest.  October 21st & 22nd.  Loves Park City Hall is host to the 47th Annual German Society of Rockford Oktoberfest. Sponsored by the German Society of Rockford, the festival will be at the Loves Park City Hall, 100 Heart Boulevard, and will feature fun for young and old. Visit the German Society of Rockford's Oktoberfest website at www.germanoktoberfest.org . On the links below, check out the videos and photos from last year's Oktoberfest.   Gemütlichkeit!   

The German Society of Rockford is pleased to announce that Lou Bachrodt Auto Mall has pledged their commitment to the 47th Annual Oktoberfest Celebration as a top-level Premier Sponsor, donating $5,000 to help make the longest-standing ethnic festival in the Forest City a success.

A tradition in the German culture, Oktoberfest will feature 6 different German Biers along with domestic, American and German food, Children’s areas, German bands and dancers, and live music from some of the area’s top musicians. ABC Catering will cater the event. Menu items will include German Sausages, potato pancakes, German potato salad and more.

The German Society has added many events this year such as the new “Bier Barrel Race”, where teams of 6 compete and the winning team earns a cash prize that will be donated to the charity of their choice; Barmaid Mug Races, Yodeling Contest and Chicken Dance contest. The crowning of Miss Oktoberfest is Friday October 21 and Zoli’s Woodcarving will be on-hand for a presentation of his creative art of making amazing wood statues out of nothing more than a chainsaw and a block of wood on Saturday Oct 22 from 12-6. Auction for his statues will be directly following at 6pm in the Oktoberfest Main Stage area.

Following a Bavarian tradition of not beginning a genuine Oktoberfest until the first keg of beer is tapped, Oktoberfest will start the same way. Darryl Lindberg, Mayor of Loves Park, after breaking the keg’s seal, will declare the party under way by yelling, O’zapt is! (Bavarian for “It is tapped!”). The opening ceremony is on Friday at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 in advance for the entire two-day festival or $5 a day at the festival ticket booth during the festival. A new VIP Party Pack has been added this year. Ticket locations and more information can be found at www.germanoktoberfest.org.

The German Society of Rockford uses proceeds to fund outreach programs, scholarships and club activities which further the German Heritage preservation in our communities."