By CHERYL ROMANO/YachatsNews
YACHATS — Break out the lederhosen and dirndls — Munich, Germany is coming to the coast with the first annual Yachats Oktoberfest, a celebration of beer, bratwurst, music and dancing.
From Friday through Sunday, Yachats will buzz with the sights and sounds of the traditional autumn festival, which originated in Munich and draws millions there each year. A major fundraiser for Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, the three-day attraction will fill the downtown area with cultural fun, German style.
The weekend kicks off Friday with the “Tapping of the Keg” by mayor Craig Berdie at the Yachats Commons. The keg is a custom brew Marzen (lager) by Walter Potter from Yachats Brewing, and small tastes will be given out free. Then a 14-piece accordion polka band gives the live soundtrack for polkafest dancing, brats, and beer. Admission is free, with beer and brats available for purchase.
Saturday will be busy — a village “Volkswalk” among local businesses for prizes, German-themed wine-tasting at Beach Daisy, a beer tasting and home brew workshop at Yachats Brewing, and then the highlight Oktoberfest dinner and dance at the Commons, where both the polka band and Yachats Big Band will perform.
Sunday finishes up with a harvest worship at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church, featuring an all-community choral group, the accordion polka band and a reception.
Tickets are $40 for the dinner dance Saturday afternoon and evening, limited to 100 for each seating at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. The cost includes a commemorative Yachats Oktoberfest beer stein. For tickets and the full schedule, visit the event’s website.
A destination event?
“The dream for all of us is to become a destination event like the Yachats Celtic Music Festival,” said pastor Bob Barrett. The Celtic fest is the hugely popular anchor to Yachats’ fall cultural season, taking place this year Nov. 10-12.
Although the church held an Oktoberfest event in 2019 at the Yachats Lions Hall that was “very successful,” the pandemic shut it down in following years. The upcoming Oktoberfest is planned as the official “First Annual,” with more and bigger features to be added as time goes on.
“Some people are asking, ‘Why an Oktoberfest at all?’,” said Barrett. “The simple answer is, ‘Why not?’ These last few years have been rough, and it seems that we need community now more than ever. We hope people will come out and join us as we gather to ‘Be community together’.”
Although lederhosen (short leather trousers) and dirndls (full-skirted dresses) are utterly optional at Oktoberfest, Barrett and his wife, Lorraine, will be wearing the traditional Bavarian garb during Oktoberfest. They bought their outfits this summer in Germany during Barrett’s sabbatical travels.
Key to the German theme is a 14-piece accordion polka band, led by church members and accordionists Shirley and Jim O’Brien of Yachats. They’ll not only play at scheduled events like the keg-tapping, polkafest and dinner dance, but some band members will also be spread around town, playing in shops and restaurants.
“We have accordionists coming from La Pine, Albany, Eugene, Roseburg, Waldport and Newport,” said Shirley O’Brien. Ranging in ages from 10 to 85, the band is unusually large compared to those featured at other Oregon Oktoberfests. Many of its members will sport traditional German outfits. Asked if people could expect to hear the well-known tune “Beer Barrel Polka” among the band’s offerings, she said, “Oh, yes, many times.”
Finding weekend lodging for out-of-town band members gave O’Brien a shockingly positive surprise. “I contacted 13 area hotels and rental agencies requesting a complimentary room for two nights,” she said. “I placed all the out-of-town musicians and had a couple of motels left over. I was shocked.”
Giving back to church that gives
Many of the lodging sites told O’Brien they wanted to give back to church for the help their staffs received during and after the pandemic.
The church created a Covid relief fund for businesses and workers during the pandemic. It also also operates “Don’s Place,” an emergency winter shelter, plus a free food pantry that feeds a couple of hundred people every week. It also shares vouchers for the Yachats Lions Thrift Store, and a fund for other emergency needs.
“Proceeds from the festival allow us to continue programs like these,” said Barrett.
As one of the Oktoberfest committee members, O’Brien put out a call for volunteers to help with Saturday’s dinner dance, and also to sing in the Sunday church choral group. O’Brien asked anyone interested in helping to call the church at 541-547-3400.
Yachats’ business community is pitching in to make Oktoberfest a success. The Chamber of Commerce is helping to promote the festival, and also processing ticket purchases through its website. In addition, virtually all the local shops are part of the “Village Volkswalk” feature.
Starting at the Commons Pavilion on Saturday, Sept. 30, people can buy a “Volkswalk Passport” for $5. Then, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., they’re encouraged to visit participating shops to get stickers on their passports. Every purchase receives an additional sticker. Completed passports need to be turned in by 2 p.m. to be entered for a chance to win an authentic German souvenir.
“The businesses get added exposure, and people have more reason to visit shops — maybe one they haven’t explored before,” said Oktobertfest committee member Nan Scott, who designed and produced the passports.
“It’s a way to connect the whole village,” O’Brien said about the passports, but could apply to the entire festival.
- Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to YachatsNews.com. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com
