Join the Newbury Park Rotarians at Oktoberfes

The 19th annual Oktoberfest co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Newbury Park and Farmers Insurance is taking on a distinctive harvest festival flair this year. It will be held Sat. and Sun., Oct. 1 and 2 at a new location from previous years. The new site is Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road, Moorpark. The event’s hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

In addition to German food, dancing, live music, performances and traditions, the festival will celebrate the fall harvest season with hayrides, pumpkin picking and a petting zoo. This year, part of the proceeds will benefit Hurricane Katrina victims.   A noontime parade known as the “Grand Entry” in Germany, with costumed dancers, musicians, puppeteers and jugglers will kick off each day at noon. After the parade, Oktoberfest tradition dictates that a dignitary taps a large barrel of beer. The spigot is opened and Oktoberfest “bar maidens” (female Rotarians dressed in German dirndls) serve beverages to festival-goers.   Both days will feature a number of contests including a best-dressed Bavarian costume contest (lederhosen and dirndls) and a stein-holding contest to see who can hold water-filled steins for the longest time. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. The contests are open to all those who attend.

The German dance and musical group Tänze der Gemütlichen Schuhplattler will be on the main stage. The group will perform traditional German dances using long Bavarian horns, accordions, bells and whips and will teach the audience simple German steps. A variety of other live music will be featured throughout the two-day event, including music from Los Angeles area band Kelly’s Lot, rock/pop/blues performer Keaton Simons, German/polka music from The Chase and swing/rock from local teen band The Blues Boyz. Strolling musicians will serenade guests whenever the entertainers on the main stage pause for a break.

A second stage will feature local performers including rock cover band The Groundbreakers, the Conejo Singers, Continental Kids and The Coveralls.   Barbecued tri-tip and chicken along with bratwurst, German potato salad, Germanstyle wieners and homemade sauerkraut are on the menu. Beck’s Oktoberfest beer will be on tap, and a designated German beer garden will provide the look and feel of an authentic German Oktoberfest celebration.   German strudel will be available at one of more than 50 food, clothing and arts and crafts booths. Face painting, children’s games, a petting zoo, hay wagon rides, a corn maze, puppet shows, festival clowns and jugglers are among the attractions for kids.

“Our Oktoberfest is in the tradition of the original Oktoberfest in Germany,” said Mary-Catherine McBride, Rotary Club of Newbury Park’s president. “When Oktoberfest first began in the early 18th century, it was very much a festival with activities for the entire family.”   For the sixth year, a limited number of collectible beer mugs will be available for $7. Oktoberfest T-shirts will be on sale for $12.   Admission is $5. Parking is free. For more information, call (805) 701-7248 or visit the Rotary website at www.nprotary.org.

For directions, call (805) 5293690 or visit the website at www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com.