The countdown is on for this year’s Eighth Annual Triangle Rotary Oktoberfest, a collaborative effort by the Town of Cary and the Apex Sunrise and Cary MacGregor Rotary Clubs. Held at Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre, Friday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 1, this year’s main beneficiary is Meg’s Smile Foundation, a nonprofit that provides gifts and/or fun days to children affected by serious illnesses who are treated in NC hospitals.
“To date, we’ve raised over $575K for charity,” said Burgermeister Craig Duerr. “In the past we’ve had US Veterans Corps, Alzheimer’s Research, Leukemia & Lymphoma — that’s what we like about Rotary, is we support everybody. We’re hoping to raise over $100K this year for charity with this event. That’s why we do it.”
Triangle Oktoberfest is the largest and most authentic German festival in NC with something for everyone — live music, German food, a KinderPlatz zone (kids area), Schlagen-Hammer (hammer-striking) competitions, the Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest contest, and (or course) beer. This year’s live entertainment will showcase The Black Forest Band from Canada, an elite polka band and winners of the 2012 PACE Awards for Best German Album.
“The wiener race is the single greatest thing we do,” said Duerr. “We have two races on Saturday, and we’ll get 60 to 70 wiener dogs out there. We have rules — no mix breeds. We have a wheelchair entry this year. One of the wiener dogs from last year had some off-season surgery. They set up bleachers, and we’re going to live stream it this year. It’s amazing.”
Another highlight of the festival is the authentic German cuisine, covering everything from Bavarian Bier Pretzels to warm apple strudel.
“Capital Club 16, which is a restaurant in downtown Raleigh, will provide the traditional German cuisine — the schnitzel, the potato salad, the sauerkraut. It’s scratch-made, and they keep it really traditional,” said Duerr. “The Butcher’s Market, which is probably the best place to get meat in this area, will be cooking up their brats, and Norbert and Annelore Gstattenbauer, owners of Annelore’s German Bakery, will have your pretzels and all your German treats. It’s going to be awesome.”
Excited to bust out your lederhosen? Visit triangleoktoberfest.org to purchase tickets for Friday, Sept. 30 or Saturday, Oct. 1. Children 16 and younger get in free. Enjoy!
