By Jessi Rochel
Carbondale Recreation Coordinator

Beer, brats and bands will be headlining this two-day event. The party kicks off Friday night at 5 p.m. with Celtic Fest – a rousing celebration of the seven Celtic nations of Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Spain, Brittany, and Ireland. On Saturday, the international education continues with Oktoberfest – a holiday to honor the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig (later King Ludwig I) of Bavaria and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12, 1810. Nearly 200 years later the party’s still going strong.

Celtic Fest

Sláinte!  Join your neighbors and friends and toast the Emerald Isle with an evening of bagpipes, beer and the Best Legs in a Kilt Contest. Sample authentic Austrian cuisine, soak up some Celtic tunes, and enjoy a jolly good autumn evening. Jig on by the Fourth Street Plaza to check out the fun.
Join your neighbors and friends under the big 40-foot by 80-foot tent. Rain, shine, or snow, you’ll be covered – literally. But be sure to get there early to stake out a seat!  
New this year for the youngsters is Kids Fest at the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center. Children ages 3-8 are welcome to participate in a variety of kid-friendly Highlander Games – including the Caber Toss (with a noodle instead of a log) and Haggis Throwing (with bean bags as opposed to – ahem – the traditional stuffed sheep’s stomach).  Additionally, there will be a bounce house, obstacle courses and other sporting games. Pre-registration is recommended. The program runs 5-7 p.m.

Oktoberfest

Willkommen! Time to dust off last year’s stein and fill it full with this year’s beer. Oktoberfest opens at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, and promises to be a day full of fun with German bands, food, and beer. Half and full-liter steins are available while supplies last.
Once you’ve sufficiently bulked up on dumplings, beef gulasch, and cheese spatzle, test your strength at any of the highly competitive (highly entertaining) contests of wits and prowess.  
After all, former event chair and current event co-coordinator, Rebecca “Becklesworth” Wagner, says, “The events are what make it a true Oktoberfest.”
The Bratwurst Eating Contest will commence at 2 p.m., with contestants working furiously to eat as many bunless brats as possible in two minutes. Later, check out the Liter Holding Contest as guys and gals alike demonstrate their superior arm strength, holding a liter stein filled to the brim with quality German beer – being careful not to spill a drop – for as long as their muscles hold out. Join the fun at 5:30 p.m.
Finally, Nail Driving contests will happen throughout the day. All you have to do is pound your nail into the log first. Sound simple? Hardly so – each contestant uses a masonry hammer and gets one turn at a time to hit a two-inch nail on the head and drive it into the log.
Taking the stage Saturday will be seasoned veteran bands of the Fest: The Average German Band will perform from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and Alpine Echo will play from 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  Local bands will round out the evening.  
Kids Fest will return again on Saturday with kid-friendly versions of some of our favorite Oktoberfest challenges and more. Stop by the recreation center from 11-4 p.m.  Remember to pre-register if you want to be sure to claim a spot!
The event at the plaza is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Carbondale Recreation and Community Center at 704-4190.