Sparks plus Oktoberfest equals Sparktoberfest! Enjoy this special Harvest Jamboree that is coming to Victorian Square Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This infusion of German culture is a celebration of music, food, art, games, and other exciting activities.
The old Silver Club on Victorian Avenue used to host an Oktoberfest, but after a few years of non-operation Mercury Momentum- a volunteer organization that runs community events- resurrected a Sparks Oktoberfest in 2015. With over 1,000 attendees, last year’s Sparktoberfest enjoyed a day of fun, Bavarian-inspired activities, and lots of beer.
“This is a continuation of Silver Club’s Oktoberfest event. They stopped doing it for about five years, so we picked it back up,” says Sparktoberfest organizer Heather Howell.
Plenty of craft beers will available throughout this year’s festival and those 21 and older can join an Octoberfest Crawl. A commemorative beer mug is only $5 with discounts at select beer stations. Those participating in the crawl can also get discounts on games to win prizes.
Beers on tap include: Wasatch Black O Lantern, Wasatch Pumpkin Ale, Hangar 24 Oktoberfest, Hanger 24 Helles Lager, Radeberger Pilsner, Blue Moon Harvest, Drakes Hefe, Spaten Optimater, Spaten Hefe Dark, Viking Blod Mead, and beers from 21st Amendment. Bavarian food to pair with the beers include brats, pretzels, fisch, pomfrits, and more.
Volks Spielen games include darts, soccer kick, corn hole, barrel race, bier spiele, and das pong along with carnival games and craft activities for kids.
Attendees can come donned in their best lederhosen or barmaid dress for chances to win prizes in the costume categories of Best German/Bavarian Theme, Best Germanic Culture Theme (Viking, Dutch, Belgium, Celtic, et cetera), Best Oktoberfest Theme, or Funniest Costume.
“My favorite part of the event is the costume contest, seeing everyone all dressed up along with the German music,” says Howell. She added that German karaoke will be going on all day as well as local dance groups performing harvest/Halloween-type skits. Bavarian music will be playing over loudspeakers throughout Victorian Square and a church oompah band will be performing.
Sparktoberfest is also hosting Dogtoberfest, with a presence from the Nevada Humane Society bringing four-legged furry friends out for adoption along with the Reno Husky Rescue.
Sparktoberfest sponsors include Rail City Casino, Nugget Casino Resort, and Mercury Momentum along with over 15 exhibitors. Exhibitor applications are accepted up until the day of the event. Sparktoberfest is organized and operated by all local volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, visit http://www.oktoberfestnv.com/community-programs/volunteers/.
Leave a Reply