Get thirsty, Fayetteville.
The re-imagined version of Dickson Street Oktoberfest is set for this Sunday, Oct. 11.
The Dickson Street Merchants Association has come together to create the event, scheduled from noon until around 8 p.m., with hopes to create a fun celebration in the fall for locals to bookend along with springtime events like Springfest.
The group enlisted the help of locals Hannah Withers and Heather Holaway, two of the folks behind the hugely popular Block Street Block Party event held each spring, to put together Fayetteville’s version of the traditional German beer festival this year.
The lineup is pretty impressive. The festival will include four stages of live music and entertainment, with a polka band, keg rolling competitions, stein races for local bar and restaurant employees, and tons of food vendors serving up their best German (or whatever) dishes.
There will be a bratwurst competition sponsored by Ozark Natural Foods called “You’re the Wurst.” The event will feature local restaurants and individuals cooking up their best version of the delicious sausages, competing to win the hearts of the judges and festival attendees for the championship. Participants so far include Blackboard Grocery, Cafe Rue Orleans, Green Goat, Gunderpickles, Four Corner’s Cafe, and Arsaga’s, and organizers say additional participants are welcome to sign up between now and Sunday.
There will be food vendors on the street as well. Little Bread Co. is making pretzels (yum), and locals Kim and Brian Abel will have a booth with their original vegetarian bratwursts, to name a few.
Several Dickson Street merchants will have activities inside their stores as well. San Lio, for example, is bringing back former 36 Club chef Peter Steinhart to cook up the restaurant’s old German menu just for the day (reservations are recommended for this event).
» Download a larger music schedule or an event map
Nightbird Books will transform into a Grimm’s Fairy Tale Garden for the kids, with readings of Little Red Riding Hood scheduled at 1:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Also for the kids, local organization Art Feeds will have a booth near the Root Bier Garden for kids to make their own mugs.
The event will also include a Mr. Oktoberfest pageant at Kingfish, emceed by the NWA Society of Bearded and Mustachioed Gentlemen. Entrants don’t have to have facial hair to enter, but rather will be judged on their belching abilities, wet t-shirt beer bellies, and other hilarious criteria.
And of course, what would an Oktoberfest celebration be without beer? This year’s event is a fundraiser for the Arkansas Brewers Guild, featuring member breweries Fossil Cove, Ozark, Saddlebock, Apple Blossom, Core, Diamond Bear, Vino’s, Lost Forty, Bentonville Brewing, Damgoode Pies, and Stone’s Throw.
The kids Root Bier Garden will include local root beer made by Apple Blossom.
On-street events and access to the Root Bier Garden are free. Tickets to the other biergartens are $5 for a single garden, or $13 for access to all three. You can also get access to all three gardens plus a commemorative stein for $20 (those in traditional German/Bavarian dress can save $5 on this package.)
A full schedule of events, including all the music, is listed below. You can also RSVP on Facebook.
For now, mark your calendar, and make plans to head down to Dickson Street for a party this weekend.
Dickson Street Oktoberfest Events
Mr. Oktoberfest Pageant
Where: Kingfish
Time: 2 p.m.
You’re the Wurst Bratwurst Competition
Where: Root Bier Garden, near Hammontree’s
Time: 2 p.m.
Pumpkin Races
Where: Dickson Street & West Avenue
Time: 2 p.m.
Keg Rolling Competition
Where: Dickson Street & West Avenue
Time: 3 p.m.
Stein Racing
Where: Dickson Street & West Avenue
Time: 4 p.m.
Pumpkin Races
Where: Dickson Street & West Avenue
Time: 5 p.m.
Live Music Stages
Campbell Ave. Biergarten
Featuring beer by Ozark, Bentonville Brewing, and Lost Forty
12 p.m. – Galaxy Tour Guides
2:30 p.m. Handmade Moments
4:30 p.m. – Call of Commotion
7 p.m. – Rochelle Bradshaw & Hypnotion
Rollston Ave. Biergarten
Featuring beer by Apple Blossom Brewing Co., Saddle Bock, Diamond Bear, and Vino’s
12 p.m. – Matt & Gus Smith
2 p.m. – Block Street Hot Club
5:30 p.m. – The OneUps
7 p.m. – Crescent City Combo
Locust Ave. Biergarten
Featuring beer by Stone’s Throw, Fossil Cove, Core, and Damgoode Pies
12 p.m. – DJ EJ
2 p.m. – M. Bolez
4:30 p.m. – DJ E-Yo
7 p.m. – DJ Derrick
Root Bier Garden
Featuring Root Bier by Apple Blossom
1 p.m. – The Sinvershakers
2 p.m. – Polka Lessons with Elayne’s Dance
2:15 p.m. – Das Polka
3 p.m. – Hula Ohana
4 p.m. – Polka Lessons with Elayne’s Dance
4:15 p.m. – Das Polka
5 p.m. – Polka Performance by NWA Regional Dance Company
5:30 p.m. – Farmer & The Markets
