- ArtsQuest’s Oktober fest wrapped up its first weekend Sunday, with another weekend to go
- The pageant celebrates beer and German tradition within the Lehigh Valley
- Many fest attendees mentioned their favourite half is the wiener canine racing tournaments, held day by day of the pageant
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The first weekend of ArtsQuest’s Oktoberfest introduced beer, wiener dogs and German tradition to SteelStacks in Bethlehem, together with no small amount of lederhosen.
And attendees. Lots of them.
This yr marks the free two-weekend pageant’s thirteenth yr. The annual pageant is sponsored by Lehigh Valley International Airport.
The coronary heart of Oktoberfest is a quartet of biergartens promoting beer and that includes stay music, every with a unique theme, simply west of the old Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.
“It’s a really fun time for the community to come and get together and have a good time, listening to music, playing games being together in each other’s company. Our mission is to provide access to the arts for all, so that’s something that we do within our festivals, within our concerts, within any of our special events.”
ArtsQuest spokeswoman Jennifer LoConte
Nearby, distributors supply meals, crafts and different items. Many, however not all, are historically German.
Though ArtsQuest did not instantly have attendance figures, the SteelStacks was full on Sunday.
Aside from the beer, a number of attendees mentioned, the pageant’s better part is a wiener canine racing match, which celebrates the traditionally German Dachshund, however is open to any canine underneath 25 kilos.
Ryan Gaylor
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LehighValleyInformation.com
There are many different distinctive occasions; for instance, a stein-holding competitors challenges attendees to carry a full mug of beer out in entrance of them so long as they will for a shot on the state championship.
PierogiPalooza, scheduled for each Saturdays of Oktoberfest, offers individuals a “passport” to strive six totally different savory pierogi.
The Brewers village, set for subsequent Saturday, is analogous, providing the prospect to pattern beers from the Lehigh Valley Brewers Guild.
Ryan Gaylor
/
LehighValleyInformation.com
“We come usually every year,” mentioned Jim Schwab, who on Sunday attended Oktoberfest along with his spouse, Diane. The wiener canine races, beer and German meals preserve them coming again, they mentioned.
“They at all times have an excellent turnout of people who come right here, particularly for the canine races. They’re hysterical.”
Oktoberfest attendee Diane Schwab
“They always have a good turnout of people that come here, especially for the dog races. They’re hysterical,” Diane Schwab mentioned.
“It’s a really fun time for the community to come and get together and have a good time, listening to music, playing games being together in each other’s company,” ArtsQuest spokeswoman Jennifer LoConte mentioned.
“Our mission is to provide access to the arts for all, so that’s something that we do within our festivals, within our concerts, within any of our special events.”
The second and last weekend of Oktoberfest, providing a lot of the identical as the primary weekend, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 13 to Sunday, Oct. 15 at SteelStacks.
