By Maureen Vander Sanden
SLN Staff
The smell of a variety of hearty chilies will be in the air under the colorful canopy of fall foliage that make’s up Veterans Park on the City Square when the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce’s hosts its annual Oktoberfest Saturday.
The annual autumn extravaganza, now in its seventh year, continues to grow as thousands are attracted to the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of the harvest season that one of city’s largest events has to offer.
Chris Clapper, executive director of the Chamber, said this year’s event will continue to offer the traditional favorites – a chili cook-off, beer and wine tasting and live music, in addition to newer attractions like the “ever expanding” classic car show, and a kids’ costume parade.
“At 3 p.m., we will have our first kids costume parade. Kids who participate can show off their costumes early and get lots of goodies – from coupons to candy,” Clapper said.
With 150 “goodie bags” ready to go, Clapper said she hopes to see lots of little ones transformed into their silliest and scariest selves.
Children will also enjoy the hay bale maze, bounce house, and pumpkin decorating, among other activities.
Clapper said she has about a dozen high school volunteers who will be assisting with children’s activities.
As with previous years, North Wisconsin Street will be closed off to make room for main stage headliners as well as additional vendors on the Square.
“We have grown leaps and bounds,” Clapper said, with 125 food and craft vendors descending on the Square and adjacent Pocket Park.
Local vendors as well as a number from northern Illinois and even the northern part of the state have secured spots at the event, according to Clapper.
“It’s amazing, it’s really starting to flourish,” she added.
Besides the support vendors provide to help the Chamber profit on the fall festival, Clapper said outside vendors are coming to town, staying overnight and spending money at local businesses – putting some of their profits right back into the community.
“Our vendors have doubled (since the first couple of years),” Clapper said. “I think they are doing very well here if they are traveling as far as five hours.”
As the success of Oktoberfest continues to grow, she said the event could soon become a weekend-long affair.
The Chamber director is also excited to introduce a new Christmas Card artist to the community, as the organization’s 16th commissioned painting will be unveiled and on display Saturday.
“We will have something for everyone at this family, fun-filled event,” she said. “Come and enjoy the downtown community and everything it has to offer.”
Experience Oktoberfest
– Wine and beer tasting in the pocket park, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Chili cook-off and tasting, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
– Classic car show in the north parking lot of the Walworth County Government Center, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Activity stage line up
– Zumba by Essential Yoga, 10 a.m.
– Mee-Too the Clown with balloon sculpting and puppets, 11 a.m.
– Toe to Toe Ballet, noon
– Walworth County Cloggers, 1 p.m.
AKF Flying Dragons, 2 p.m.
– Kids costume parade, 3 p.m.
Main stage line up
– Most Wanted, 11 a.m.
– SuperFly, 1 p.m.
– Kings Highway, 3 p.m.
For more information on the event call the Elkhorn Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism at (262) 723-5788 or visit www.elkhornchamber.com.
