The Effingham Chamber of Commerce is preparing for what is shaping up to be a bigger and better Oktoberfest.
The Chamber’s second annual Oktoberfest is scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at the corner of McCall Road and Highway 21.
“I could not be more excited about this year’s Oktoberfest,” Chamber Executive Director Rick Lott said. “Last year’s event blew everybody away. The crowds were great. Everybody had a great time. This year, we’re getting even more buzz about it.”
There will be music throughout both days and The Channelheimers will return to the stage. Friday night is the battle of the bands, beginning at 7 p.m., and the legendary group The Drifters — noted for classic hits “Under the Boardwalk,” “Up On the Roof” and “Save the Last Dance For Me” — will perform Saturday night.
“I think it’s going to be wall-to-wall people,” Lott said. “Get your parking space early.”
Parking for Oktoberfest will occur at the recreational ballfields on McCall Road and also on the lot behind Landscaper’s Depot.
Lott said food vendors filled up the vacancies two months ago, in contrast to the first Oktoberfest.
“Last year, I was still trying to get people to come in and give it a try a week or two before the festival,” he said. “That’s how early people started. I had one vendor from Florida who did just a little funnel cake booth, she loved it so much she’s coming back with a 30-foot-long food booth.”
There also are plenty of arts and crafts vendors lined up for the festival, Lott added, “great jewelry, great photography, all kinds of great stuff.”
Lott also expressed his gratitude for the sponsors, including presenting sponsor Comcast, along with Georgia Power and Fuller Chevrolet.
“You couldn’t do something this expensive without the sponsors,” he said. “This year, we’re just very blessed. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Effingham Hospital is sponsoring an enlarged children’s area, with up to four or five inflatables and pony rides.
“The children’s area is going to be much bigger this year than it was last year,” Lott said. “We’ll have more inflatables, a rock climbing wall, pony rides, airbrush tattoos artists, plenty, plenty to do in the children’s area. It will be a great, great time.”
As for the more adult pursuits, Lott said they learned from last year’s Oktoberfest, when the temperatures were unseasonably warm, even for south Georgia. They will have a 40 by 80 foot tent to cover the beer garden and give shelter to those sampling the American and German brews.
“So if it happens to be a little on the warm side, you’ve got a place to duck in and cool off,” he said.
The festival hours on Sept. 23 are noon-11 p.m., with the battle of the bands beginning at 7 p.m., and from 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sept. 24.