Grand Forks' Valley Senior Living's third-annual 'Oktoberfest' to feature authentic German food, music, games
Sep. 22—GRAND FORKS — If you can't make it to Munich this fall, you can still experience the delights of the traditional German festival Oktoberfest — the music, the beer, the food, the lederhosen — right here in Grand Forks.
Tickets are on sale for Valley Senior Living's third-annual Oktoberfest set for Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Alerus Center. It's just about as close to the famous German celebration as you can find, organizers say.
Tickets, $60, must be purchased in advance, said Sally Grosgebauer, the organization's director of marketing. Visit
. Doors open at 5 p.m.; enter through doors 5 or 6. The event will conclude at 7:30 p.m.
An online silent auction is underway. Visit
to view and bid on items. The auction will be held during Thursday's event at the Alerus Center, with bids accepted until 7:30 p.m. To register as a bidder, go to
. You do not need to be present at the Sept. 28 event to participate in the silent auction, Grosgebauer said.
Oktoberfest will feature a German-style meal, including pretzels with beer cheese dip, Berlin kartoffelsuppe or knoephla soup, and buffet-style German brats and sauerkraut; sauerbraten and German potato salad; and perogies, with peppers and onions, the vegetarian option. Apple kuchen will be served for dessert.
The first 320 attendees will receive a complimentary beer stein and the first two stein fills of local craft beer or first glass of wine.
Live music will be provided by Matt Hodek and the Dakota Dutchmen, of Lankin, North Dakota.
State Rep. Corey Mock, of Grand Forks, will serve as master of ceremonies, and Mayor Brandon Bochenski will be attending, Grosgebauer said.
Attendees are encouraged to wear traditional German garments such as lederhosen, those leather short pants for men, and drindl, folk-style dresses for women, she said.
The evening will be filled with great polka dancing music, Grosgebauer said, and attendees will have a chance to try their nail-striking skills, along with other assorted competitions throughout the evening. Also planned are an ax-throwing competition, craft beer-tasting from local breweries, and chances to win with a paddle wheel game. In the stein-holding competition, each competitor holds a glass stein full of water straight out at arms' length to see who can hold it the longest. For a $20 entry fee, contestants can try their luck in the heads-or-tails coin toss event, dubbed the "last man standing" event.
Other highlights include polka-dancing demonstrations and tips from local dance enthusiast Teresa Dufner, Ziggy Zaggy's sing-along, and a photo booth.
The funds raised from this event will be used to support life-enriching activities for the residents of VSL facilities, "by providing the opportunity for them to stay as active in the community as possible," Grosgebauer said. This often means "keeping them active in community clubs and organizations, going to sporting events and concerts, theater productions, community events, and more."
The VSL organization offers a "wishing well" program that allows residents the chance to reconnect with their past or experience something on their "bucket list," such as an adventure or some other wish, she said. It might be a trip to a Minnesota Twins game; transportation and assistance to attend a wedding, family reunion or funeral at a distant location; or a day at the family lake home that requires the assistance of VSL care staff and transportation.
Two years ago, the VSL Foundation leadership was considering various ideas for a possible signature community event to support the VSL Community Connections program, Grosgebauer said.
At that time, planning was carried out by the Foundation, but last year it was expanded to include a community committee made up of volunteers with an interest in Oktoberfest and in supporting VSL and its residents, she said. Committee members include Monica Musich, Corey Mock, Evan Wilcox, Scott Berge, Kay Derry, Sam Jenson, Shaun Havis and Grosegebauer.
Valley Senior Living "is grateful to those who've given their time and talents to help with continuing to grow this community event, supporting such an important group of people in our community," Grosgebauer said.
