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City of Woodstock approves Oktoberfest event
The Woodstock Noon Rotary and Woodstock Mozart Festival have joined forces to host the inaugural Woodstock Oktoberfest fundraiser.
“It is envisioned that Oktoberfest-type beers and German wines will be offered along with German food catered by the [Woodstock] Public House,” said Thomas McGrath, Woodstock Noon Rotary Club secretary, in a letter to the Woodstock City Council. The event will be held at the Woodstock Water Works facility at Emricson Park. “We would like to place a tent on the grass immediately west of the western pool pavilion.”
The Woodstock Noon Rotary will be responsible for the logistics and operations of the event while the Woodstock Mozart Festival will provide musical entertainment and polka instruction.
The event would be open to people 21 and over only, with wristbands issued after age verification.
“While the pools have already been drained, it is proposed that the area … be blocked off to prevent any event-goer from inadvertently accessing the pools,” a staff report stated. This is similar to the method used for Movies in the Park. “In addition, a staff member will be present and Rotarians will patrol the event to help ensure the safety of the guests.”
While the area is large, city staff have limited the total number of possible guests to 400.
At its Sept. 4 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously in favor of approving use of the site from 4 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, plus additional time needed for set-up and clean-up. A special event liquor license also was approved during those hours, in addition to a waiver of alcohol in the designated area of the park.
Before the vote, Mayor Brian Sager commended organizers for their strong leadership in coordinating the event and said he expects the event to be a success for years to come.
“Everybody likes an Oktoberfest,” he said before the council voted. There was no discussion from the public.
