The Rotary Club of Palatine will host its 13th Annual Oktoberfest, which is open to the public on Friday, Sept. 17 through Sunday, Sept. 19, on the corner of Smith and Slade in downtown Palatine south of the Metra train station. The event raises funds for the club’s support of local charities and community projects in the Palatine area.
The event runs Friday from 5 p.m. to midnight, Saturday from noon until midnight, and Sunday from noon until 6 p.m.
Saturday is Family Day with games, crafts, and entertainment of interest for children between noon and 3:30 p.m.
Admission is free to the tented event that features authentic German music, food, beverages and activities for all ages.
The festival kicks off at 5 p.m. Sept. 17 with Mayor Jim Schwantz officiating over the blessing and tapping of the keg ceremony.
In addition to a variety of German beers, the event will also feature authentic German food from vendors including Morkes Chocolates, Tap House Grill, Lincoln Land Kettle Corn, the American Legion, Friends of the Rotary, Schnitzel Platz, Tre Amici Pizza and Kooker’s. Morkes will have a variety of caramel apples and spiced donuts. Tap House Grill will offer pretzels with beer cheese and spicy mustard, deep fried schnitzel pork bites, sauerbraten pot roast sliders and ice cream. Lincoln Land Kettle Corn will have regular and jumbo kettle corn. Pop and water will be available for purchase from volunteers supporting the Rotary Club of Palatine.
The American Legion will provide French fries, cheese fries as well as cheese curds, and to complete the meal the Friends of the Rotary will cook brats and hot dogs. Schnitzel Platz will offer schnitzel sandwiches, frankfurters on buns, pork shank with gravy and sauerkraut balls. Tre Amici will feature sausage, German and Reuben pizza. Kooker’s will have weisswurst thuringer, brat combos, a Leberkase sandwich, a Bavarian plate, salads and desserts.
Musical entertainment will kick off Friday, Sept. 17 with Die Musikmeisters from 5 to 8:30 p.m., followed by Phenix from 9 p.m. to midnight. The next day’s entertainment includes Ed Wagner’s Brass Band performing from 3:30 to 6 p.m., followed by Phenix at 6:30 p.m. until midnight. The musical line up on Sunday features Die Musikmeisters on stage from noon to 2:30 p.m. followed by Johnny Wagner from 3 to 6 p.m.
Games and activities for Family Day will be on Saturday from noon until 3:30 p.m. with face painting, police and fire Department displays, children’s raffle prizes and birdhouse building by Home Depot.
On stage will be musical performances starting at noon with Palatine and Schaumburg as well as Conant High School music departments. German dancers Vest Dance Troupe and Bonnie Lindholm School of Dance will entertain with dance demonstrations. At approximately 1 p.m., the winners of Scarecrows on Parade, a scarecrow decorating contest sponsored by the village of Palatine, will be announced.
This year, Family Day will feature an Oktoberfest Family Bike Ride sponsored by the Bike Palatine Club on that Sunday morning at the corner of Smith and Slade streets from 11 a.m. to noon. Visit bikepalatine.com to register or for more information.
Rotary Club of Palatine meets every Monday at 7:15 a.m. at Red Apple Pancake House.
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