The Penticton Lakeside Resort is ready to willkommen Oktoberfest for the first time in their new conference centre this weekend.
“This venue is capable of handling a lot more attendees,” said one of the event organizers Barb Schneiderat. “Chef Chris Remington (with the resort) has prepared a different menu for us as well.
It will be typical Oktoberfest food — barbecue chicken, sausages on a bun, German potato salad and sauerkraut — and he’s preparing a surprise dessert as well.”
The Lakeside conference centre will transform and become Munich’s famed Hofbrauhaus on Oct. 20 from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. to celebrate the German culture and tradition.
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Highway 97 Brewery is the event’s newest brewery that will be serving craft beer alongside the Cannery Brewery, Summerland Heritage Cider Company and Hester Creek Estate Winery Ltd. Import beer will also be provided by the McClelland Premium Imports.
Food will be available until 11 p.m. for those “looking for a bite to eat at the end of the night” according to Schneiderat.
Lederhosen or not, organizers are promising a great evening and suggest wearing comfortable shoes as the dance floor will be hopping.
“The Beer Barrels, a three-piece dance group, are the entertainment and Uncorked, the local band, will come on at 10 p.m.,” said Schneiderat. “We have the Alpine Platters dance troop with us this year as well.”
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Uncorked is one the South Okanagan’s favourite dance bands. Based out of Naramata, they started in 2001 playing at wineries throughout the valley. The band includes Lisa Salting on lead vocals/bass, Jeff Queen on acoustic guitar/vocals/blues harmonica, Sean Queen on lead guitar/bass/vocals and Gary Leggott on drums/vocals.
The Beer Barrels are an oompa-pa dance band, accordion, various saxophones, drums and keyboard, performing professionally for the past 25 years. They play the traditional music and German drinking songs while striving to amuse audiences with Oktoberfest antics such as yodelling and beer drinking contests.
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Bringing a taste of Bavarian flavour to the dance floor are the Alpine Platters. Many of their members have been dancing since childhood and have toured Germany and Austria. They strive to keep Schuhplattler, the traditional style of dance from the alpine regions of Germany and Austria, alive. The dance is best know for the men waring lederhosen and hitting their legs, feet (and sometimes each other) in time with the music. The woman dance in dirndl costumes adding their part to the story.
Tickets for this 19-plus event are $35 each in advance ($40 at the door), plus facility fees and taxes, and include admission, a beer mug and one free beverage of your choosing. Tickets can be purchased at the front desk of the Lakeside Resort. For more information, visit www.pentictonoktoberfest.ca.
“We’re looking forward to a good turnout this year,” said Schneiderat. “This event has donated $25,000 for the building of the new tower at the Penticton Hospital so it’s a great way to come out and have fun and raise funds for the community.”
In 2015, Penticton Oktoberfest made a donation to Penticton and District Search and Rescue to go towards the repair of a critical communications tower on Apex Mountain and a donation to towards completing restoration work on the stern saloon of the SS Okanagan.
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