Andrews – Dust off those dirndls and lay out the lederhosen because it’s time to offer cheers of “Prost.”
After last year’s cancellation due to Hurricane Helene, the Andrews Chamber of Commerce is again hosting – technically – its fourth Oktoberfest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday along Main Street downtown.
New Executive Director Sara Posey Davis, in her first turn at a large-scale signature chamber event, said this year the festival will offer a beer and wine garden featuring local brewers and vintners, along with several area food trucks, which will be set up in the old A&P parking lot along with tables for diners to enjoy.
“Our live music stage will be set up at the end of Main Street, by FernCrest Winery, and we’ll have the beer and wine garden and food trucks and arts and craft vendors lining the blocks of downtown to the Andrews Public Library. We’ll also have a Kids Zone set up on Chestnut Street again this year, along with our newest addition of axe throwing,” she said.
“Once again we’re grateful to Harrah’s Cherokee Valley River Casino & Hotel for their support again this year after having to cancel everything at the last minute last year.”
Posey Davis added that while last year’s cancellation was a disappointment, it was due to safety concerns. Cherokee County was first forecast to receive the brunt of Helene before the storm shifted northward.
“We were actually contacted by the state fire marshal and advised to cancel last year due to hazardous travel conditions. But we’re pleased to bring the festival back this year and, once again, we have no rain date selected,” she said.
“Our monthly Food Truck Friday is the night before to sort of kick off the event, so we’re anticipating larger crowds this year for folks spending the weekend in town, as well as our loyal locals who support our events.”
While everyone is looking to the Atlantic Ocean’s tropical season forecast and watching as many radars and indicators as they’re able, the festival has enjoyed mild weather in past years.
For those bothered that Oktoberfest doesn’t take place in October, the festival originated in Munich, Germany, as a celebration of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese’s wedding in October 1810. Since then, the annual celebration has begun in mid-September in its many worldwide iterations and typically runs through the first Sunday in October.
This year’s live music features an all-local lineup, with Dead Bread from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.; Betty Vaughan-Grindstaff & Friends from 1-2:30 p.m.; and Brother Band closing the show out from 3-5 p.m.
Wristbands and an ID check are required to purchase alcohol at the event. Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic all day.
Details: The Andrews Chamber of Commerce is at 955 Main St. downtown. See visitandrewsnc.com/oktoberfest.