Yachats is getting another festival.
A group of oomph-band musicians and Yachats Community Presbyterian Church are staging an Octoberfest celebration from 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Yachats Lions Club.
The event was spurred by a casual conversation between three musicians after the Waldport Beachcomber Days this summer. Now its organizers hope the event can eventually grow into a weekend-long celebration of German food, music and, of course, a little beer.
The idea came about during a conversation between Shirley and Jim O’Brien, new Yachats residents, and Eric Bigler, an active member of the Yachats Big Band. The O’Briens are retired University of Arizona academics who have travelled the West playing their accordians at Octoberfest celebrations.
“We need a shoulder-season event in addition to the Mushroom and Celtic festivals,” said Shirley O’Brien.
Bigler approached Bob Barrett, pastor of Yachats Presbyterian, who simply said “If you can provide the music then we can provide the food.”
And the first Yachats Octoberfest was born.
The inaugural event will feature bratwurst, German spatzle prepared by well-known Yachats chef Anthony Velarde, potato salad, sauerkraut and Bavarian chocolate cake. The cost of dinner is $12. A special Octoberfest beer, provided by Yachats Brewing, is $5. Tickets can be purchased at the door.
There will be a traditional “tapping of the keg” ceremony and polka music at 4 p.m. Friday at the brewery.
Saturday evening there will be continuous musical entertainment by the Yachats Big Band, The Sauerkraut Seven, Robert Rubin and by the O’Briens, who call themselves Music on the Road.
And yes, Shirley O’Brien says, there will be several opportunities to perform the well-known “chicken dance.”
Proceeds – if the event makes a little money – will go to support the church’s community projects.
Barrett said if the festival is successful enough, they hope to move it to September — the traditional month of Octoberfest celebrations. That would give the city a major celebration in September with Octoberfest, in October with the Mushroom Festival and in November with the Celtic Festival.
“We hope it can bring the community together to celebrate … and maybe make a little money for the church’s special programs,” Barrett said. “We hope it’s going to be successful and is something that grows and we can expand to the whole weekend.”
We’re excited and it seems that everyone else is too. We will kick the weekend off with a tapping and tasting ceremony this evening, (Friday the 25th at 4:00pm at the Yachats Brewery where the Brewmeister will uncork a keg of their special Yachat’s Oktoberfest Brew, and several local dignitaries will sample it and declare it “fit for the festival.” We will also unveil the special Yachat’s Oktoberfest song, written especially for the occasion.
Kudos to the local merchants and vendors who are supporting the First Annual Yachats Oktoberfest. As the song says: “Let’s have a party. We’ll bring the music for your delight. Roll out the barrel, spread out the cheer. We’ll play a polka for everyone here.”