Oktoberfest offers a great fall festival for all in downtown O’Fallon

Can’t make it to Munich for Oktoberfest this year? Then just travel down the road to downtown O’Fallon for St. Clare Parish’s 22nd Annual Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 24.

People will find all the food, music and games they need to celebrate in style.

Grab family and friends and plan to stay for an evening of fun. The fest runs from 4-10 p.m. and takes place on and around the St. Clare School campus at Third and Cherry streets, in the heart of historic downtown O’Fallon.

“We pride ourselves on offering a family-friendly festival, and this year we are excited to be back to our full festival with music, games, food and fun for people of all ages,” said Oktoberfest chairman Tom Knaust. “It’s time to get back to a full celebration. We think this will be our best-ever Oktoberfest.”

This popular, regional Oktoberfest welcomes all and features a hearty German-style roast pork dinner from 4-7 p.m. as well as festival foods, such as bratwurst with zesty homemade kraut, hamburgers, funnel cakes, spiral spuds, Tropical Sno, pretzels and more all night. People can complement their dinner with a selection of authentic German beers on tap in the festive “Bier und Weingarten.” Prost!

Live music kicks off at 4 p.m. with the oompah beat of the Belleville Blas Kapple German Band. Then, Oktoberfest will switch gears as the sun sets and welcome The Pedestrians to the stage from 7-10 p.m.

Ready for fun? People can try their luck at the basket raffle, I Dood It, Bingo, cake walk, silent auction, poker or raffle tickets. Tickets for the $100 winners will be drawn hourly with the grand prize of $10,000 awarded at 10 p.m. Children will have plenty of options for fun with pony rides from Camp Ondessonk, inflatables, extreme activities, games, face painting and a fun run.

Registration for the 5K run begins at 3 p.m. and the runners will hit the streets at 4:15 p.m. right after the kids’ fun run at 4 p.m.

For more information, visit stclarechurch.org/oktoberfest or contact the parish office at 618-632-3562.

Oktoberfest is the church’s biggest annual fundraiser, and all proceeds help pay down the parish’s mortgage debt.

Want to go?

• What: St Clare Oktoberfest, with food, music, inflatables and games
• Who: For everyone
• When: 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24
• Where: Third and Cherry streets in downtown O’Fallon