By Holly Kline
German food and dancing plus entertainment for kids, live music and a beer garden will be on hand at the ninth annual “Fishers Oktoberfest Saxony” on Sept. 27 from noon to 10 p.m. Located at Saxony’s Witten Park in Fishers, this popular festival boasts free admission and activities for all ages.
Oktoberfest is hosted by the Fishers Freedom Festival, along with help from Saxony and Leinenkugel. “We had approximately 5,000 in attendance at Oktoberfest last year,” said Jennifer Kehl, Fishers Freedom Festival Executive Director. “That was the best year ever.”
The Fishers Oktoberfest event is a fundraiser for the Freedom Festival. “We get a percentage of food sales, and we make money on the beer,” Kehl said. “Our profits go to the Fishers Freedom Festival. The money we raise goes into the Festival’s general fund to pay for the free activities at the Freedom Festival.”
An Oktoberfest celebration traditionally includes a beer garden and the Fishers Oktoberfest is no exception. The beer garden will be open from noon to 10 p.m. and adults can purchase beer or wine with $5 tokens available at the festival.
Kehl pointed out additional highlights for this year’s event. “The American German Club in Indy is going to provide German dancers,” she said. “From noon to 3 businesses are going to provide kid games and we’ll have face painting, balloon artists and a photo booth with lots of fun props. At 6:30 there will be a contest for the best German costume.”
Polka music begins at noon, Big Daddy Caddy plays at 3:30 p.m. and My Yellow Rickshaw performs from 7 to 10 p.m.. Arts and crafts vendors will also be set up. “We’ve grown the crafters from about 15 to 40,” Kehl said. “We’ll keep it that size because the more we do, the more volunteers we need. The whole festival is a nice size right now.”
Kehl is pleased with the Fishers Oktoberfest Saxony event. “What we try to do is keep it free and try to offer something for everyone, from kids on up to adults,” she said.
Attendees are encouraged to bring canned goods to the festival and the food collected will be donated to the Fall Creek Township food pantry. For additional festival information, visit www.fishersfreedomfestival.org
