In the tented biergarten, you can buy Bavarian and American food, drink Oktoberfest beer and listen to live music. Donna Manz/The Connection
Vienna Oktoberfest Schedule
Vienna Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Vienna Business Association in cooperation with the Town of Vienna, runs Saturday, Oct. 5, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the historic Church Street corridor. The event kicks off at 11 a.m. with Rocknoceros on the Children’s Stage on the Town Green, and the School of Rock on the main stage in the Beer and Wine Garden. The Beer and Wine Garden will be open for entertainment and food at 11 a.m. and for beverage purchase at noon. The beer garden is cash only and an ATM will be available there.
Children’s Stage Entertainment Schedule:
*11 a.m., Rocknoceros; Noon, Noland the Magician; 1 p.m., The Lone Ranger and his horse Silver; 2:30 p.m., Enshin Karate Demonstration; 3 p.m., Vienna Dance Academy;
Main Stage Entertainment Schedule
*11 a.m., School of Rock; 1 p.m., Sexton’s 11-Piece German Band; 4 p.m. Fat Chance
For more information, visit www.viennaoktoberfest.org.
There’s German food and American-style food, live entertainment on the children’s stage and main stage, German Oktoberfest beer and domestic beer, a marketplace of more than 100 vendors, a roving masked Lone Ranger on a white horse, and children’s activities—from face painting to rock climbing and bounce house—all at the Vienna Oktoberfest, Saturday, Oct. 5, on the Vienna Town Green. And Rocknoceros—yes, Northern Virginia’s most acclaimed kiddie-rock band—opens the kids’ area at 11 a.m.; the School of Rock opens the tented beer garden at the same time.
“It’s a fun event for all ages,” said Vienna Business Association (VBA) Chairman Kathy Georgen. “There’s something for everybody … free activities for the kids, beer and wine and food for the adults. It’s a community event.”
Vienna Oktoberfest, sponsored by the VBA and the Town of Vienna Saturday, kicks off at 11 a.m., with a special welcome by the festival’s first-ever burgermeister, Greg Bernhard and the performance by Rocknoceros on the children’s stage. Food and beer, entertainment, marketplace and activities run to 7 p.m. The festival takes place along the Historic Church Street corridor and on the Town Green. Maplewood Grill, Bazin’s and Plaka Grill will sell Oktoberfest favorites from the Church Street food court. The beer garden and main stage are also in the caboose parking lot.
America’s "most authentic original looking Lone Ranger & Silver in the Country"—that’s from the Lone Ranger’s website—appears and rides around the grounds when the festival opens and continues until the Lone Ranger and Silver present their program on-stage and on the Green. The Lone Ranger maintains his character throughout the day, offering messages of positive values for children. He poses for photos with festival visitors. VBA anticipates this will be a highlight for families.
Children can rock-climb, jump in a bounce house, write on the street with chalk, have their faces painted, watch entertainment on the Town Green planned with them in-mind, and build with Legos. The Vienna Volunteer Fire Department’s antique fire truck will be parked at the Town Green, as well.
Overseeing the 2013 festival is burgermeister Greg Bernhard, and a wein richter—or wine judge, in Vienna vernacular—Mark Schmidt.
To learn more about the 2013 Vienna Oktoberfest, go to www.ViennaOktoberfest.org. Proceeds benefit the first annual First Night celebration sponsored by the Vienna Business Association and the Town of Vienna. Connection Newspapers is the print media sponsor.