When you think of an Oktoberfest celebration in the United States, thoughts tend to be focused on beer, sausage, lederhosen and accordions. Stowe, Vermont is the ideal location for a memorable Oktoberfest in America. The Stowe area is home to a 200+ year old village and Vermont's tallest peak; you’d swear you’ve been transported to the Bavarian Alps. No matter where you look or season you visit, Stowe will always provide unforgettable panoramic vistas and a friendly community.
Normally, a massive beer company will sponsor the festival and reap most of the reward. Stowe Oktoberfest stands in stark contrast to those “so called” festivals. All the proceeds are returned to Stowe, the surrounding communities and even a little money goes to other countries. This festival is truly focused on celebrating Bavarian culture and supporting a myriad of great causes in the Stowe area. This year during their Friday fundraising event, they will be raising money for Stowe Adaptive Sports. Community involvement is key to the success of this festival and the residents show up in large numbers to help out and meet these new visitors to their community. We interviewed Iain Davies, the President of the Stowe Oktoberfest, about the festival and the impact it has on the community.
RAL: How many people annually attend and who are they demographically?
ID: The event has been running for 19 years. We draw approximately 4,000-5,000 people annually over the course of the weekend. The demographic changes with the day of the event due to the individual activities. Friday evening is the 22-35 group, Saturday is a good mix right across the board and Sunday is definitely 40+. Children of all ages will love the Kinderplatz, where kids can play video games, use the bounce house, do face painting, and pumpkin decorating. Generally, we have a great mix of families, couples and singles. There is something for everyone at Stowe Oktoberfest.
RAL: What makes the Stowe Oktoberfest unique?
ID: The event is one of many Oktoberfests held around the region, mostly sponsored by beer companies and as such being mostly "for profit". Our event is purely a not-for-profit enterprise. All of our net profits are returned to the local towns, the regional community and a small portion to the international community. With the emphasis on local return on our investment, we return these in the form of student scholarships and gifts to local, national and international charities. We rely on a heavy dose of local and regional volunteers, many of them being school kids, along with our entire club participating in the event.
RAL: What can a visitor expect for activities, guest appearances, food and overall environment?
ID: On Friday, the festivities start with a free rock concert (Rocktoberfest) with The Sugardaddies (a local band). We ask that folks give what they can in lieu of admission. Beer, music, dancing and food highlight the evening which has grown immensely in popularity over the last couple of years. On Saturday, we start with our parade at 10 am in the village center and work towards the big tent in the Stowe events field where spectators and participants alike gather to tap the Keg and officially open the event. We have two traditional German bands and a Yodler to entertain throughout Saturday and Sunday. Beer, hard Cider and wine flow freely throughout the weekend. We serve our traditional german wursts, homemade sauerkraut, and mac and cheese in our food garden during the entire event.
The event takes place under a giant tent with areas for a silent auction, vendor booths, sponsor booths, kinderplatz, stage, a large dance floor, german desserts, beer and food.
RAL: What can visitors expect for local lodging?
ID: We hold the event on the weekend prior to the Columbus Day holiday and right in the middle of the peak of fall colors so pretty much all of the local accommodations are booked solid. It is one of the busiest times in town. The town offers everything from high end resorts to Inns and bed and breakfasts, and motels. A few great lodging options in the area include Stowe Mountain Lodge, Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Topnotch Resort and Spa and Mountainside Resort at Stowe.
RAL: Tell me about how the festival impacts the community and any special causes it supports.
ID: We are designated a top ten event in Vermont by the Chamber of Commerce and we do believe that we drive quite a bit of business into the town. Every Friday evening for the past five years or so we have designated the net proceeds to a specific charity. The year Irene came through the state we pledged those proceeds towards the town of Waterbury relief fund. Last year they went to Lamoille Health and Hospice, and this year the net proceeds will go to Stowe Adaptive Sports which helps folks with physical needs get on skis, and now into the water through many amazing volunteer programs.
RAL: Why should people come to the Stowe Oktoberfest?
ID: This is a great event for the entire family. Come and enjoy the celebration of the harvest under the big tent. We have something for just about everyone who enjoys the German cultures and traditions. From food, to beer to bands we offer a complete Oktoberfest experience without the expense of the airfare to Germany!
For more information don't hesitate to visit their website.