Stein hoisting, anyone? Celebrate the start of autumn at German-themed Oktoberfest
It’s no surprise that a biergarten is a big part of Lee’s Summit’s annual Oktoberfest. Fest-goers can lift a stein, enjoy a bratwurst, and admire folk dancers and others outfitted in lederhosen and dirndl.
But beyond the German traditions, many oriented toward the 21 and older crowd, Oktoberfest includes plenty for children, including a carnival, petting zoo, wagon parade and a kids’ street.
The event, which is the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce’s major fundraiser, begins at 5 p.m. Sept. 22 and wraps up at 4 p.m. Sept. 24, with all activities in downtown Lee’s Summit. On the last day, the festival is limited to the carnival only.
The three-day event is typically attended by more than 120,000 people from throughout the metropolitan area. Admission is free and includes all live entertainment. But bring your wallet to pay for carnival rides, the pony rides and petting zoo, food and drink, and purchases from arts and crafts booths.
Oktoberfest began in 1989 as a replacement for Cole Younger Days, a long-running community festival, said Denise Elam, Lee’s Summit Chamber director of marketing and communication.
Attendees at this year’s fall celebration will have the opportunity to check out several new attractions.
Locally brewed craft beer will be available in the Biergarten this year, Elam said. Expect to taste beer from Diametric Brewing Co., Goat Brewing, Smoke Brewing Company, Grains and Tap, and Fringe Beerworks.
Another 2023 addition is Oktoberfest’s designated Hometown Hero section, which will honor those who have served our country, she said. This area will also feature military vehicles on display.
“This is a record year for us in terms of craft vendors, with more than 100 registered to line the streets with their locally produced handmade goods and merchandise,” Elam said.
German dancing and other entertainment inside the Volkerzelt (the people’s tent) always draws a crowd, she added.
“Festival-goers who purchase tasting glasses can enjoy unlimited homebrew tastings for three hours in the biergarten, while participating home brewers serve up samples of their best brews during the Home Brew Competition,” Elam said. “Lastly, we have the Stein Hoisting Competition. Participants get very competitive as they try to see who can hold the stein (big glass mug) for the longest amount of time.”
Entertainment is presented on both the community stage, highlighting local talent, as well as the main stage. On the festival’s first evening, featured performers on the main stage will be Main Street Mojo, a local blues band, and Hazzard County, a four-person group performing traditional and modern country, as well as popular rock.
Saturday’s main stage musicians include The Local, performing a range of numbers, including Motown and today’s hits; Jessica Paige, a three-time semi finalist on “American Idol”; Emma Jo, performing Americana and country music; and Crossroad Sound, a Kansas City area group presenting a variety of music, including pop, rock, disco and rap.
Elam said volunteers and sponsors are essential to the festival’s success.
Many members of the Oktoberfest Committee, she said, have been participating in the festival as attendees and volunteers for years, and are passionate because they know the impact the event has on the community.
“This festival would not be possible without help from our generous sponsors and volunteers,” she said. “It truly takes a village, and we are lucky to have the most hard-working, dedicated village around us.”
For more information about volunteering, sponsorship or attending Okboterfest, visit the Chamber’s webpage.
