In a press release sent out on Tuesday afternoon from the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce, a decision to put the 2017 Oktoberfest on hiatus was announced in a surprising move.

Oktoberfest, which is held annually in Rincon during September, is a well-attended and highly enjoyed event that brings together the community in a celebration of German pride and heritage.

The press release reads as follows: “Springfield, GA –   At their annual Board Planning Retreat, the Board of Directors of the Effingham County Chamber of Commerce decided to place the Oktoberfest festival held annually in September on hiatus for 2017. This will allow the Chamber to assess the timing and format of the Oktoberfest event relative to other popular community events, such as the Effingham County Fair and the City of Springfield Fall Festival. The Chamber’s Events and Programming Committee will be reaching out to the entire membership during the next few months as part of their efforts to evaluate all Chamber events and programs to determine the best allocation of Chamber resources and to ensure that all events and programs hosted by the Chamber benefit its members and the community as a whole.”

More information on the cancellation of Oktoberfest will be released  as it becomes available.