by Kirby Lindsay, posted 17 September 2014
This year the Fremont Oktoberfest, held September 19th, 20th & 21st, will give attendees a chance to choose their crowd.
On Sunday, September 21st, Fremont Oktoberfest goes all-ages – Kid-toberfest, if you must – as the gated event welcomes everyone to enjoy a day of runs, scrambles, dogs, pumpkins, a bouncy house, food booths and beverages (alcoholic and non.) Also, anyone under 21 is admitted free into Fremont Oktoberfest on Sunday, with one paying adult, with the first 500 ‘kids’ (that means anyone under 21) receiving a free pumpkin carving kit.
‘Checking A Different Box’
“No matter what we did in the past,” explained Phil Megenhardt, Creative Director for Bold Hat Productions which has organized the Oktoberfest, on behalf of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, for 18 years, “people would ask, ‘why can’t I come in with my kids?’”
The past permits for Fremont Oktoberfest had previously prohibited entrance to anyone under 21 – even if they were napping in a backpack on Dad. And every year, people pushed back.
This year, Bold Hat is trying something different. “It’s just a matter of checking a different box,” Megenhardt said about getting the permit for an all-ages Sunday. The permit may be a clerical matter, but for Bold Hat (and the Chamber Board) it means doing everything possible to see the rules get followed, and everyone behaves, so the City of Seattle Special Events Committee and the Washington State Liquor Control Board feel comfortable issuing this particular permit to Bold Hat again, and again.
The Fremont Chamber, and Bold Hat, have taken pains through many years of Oktoberfest-ing, to create, “a safe experience for everyone,” Megenhardt observed. They hire security, cut-off (and care for) those over-imbibing, and check all I.D.s. “This shows the responsibility that the Chamber has taken,” Megenhardt said, of the permit being issued, “It’s about being in compliance, and in communication.”
“It’s a test,” Megenhardt said of Sunday’s all-ages experience, “if we do this right, we will be able to do it again.” Bold Hat, and the Fremont Chamber, are excited to be able to create an event that the whole family can enjoy, with a long list of kid-friendly (and kid-focused) activities. “Our policies are consistently enforced,” Megenhardt said, and that makes it easier to adjust policies to provide for the addition of the stroller-set.
Party In The Streets, Or With The Strollers
For years, Fremont Oktoberfest has had ‘Dog-toberfest’ on Sundays – with canine companions sprinkled throughout the festival. This has made Fremont Oktoberfest a great place, on Friday and Saturday, for those uninterested in navigating leashes. This year, Megenhardt sees Sundays as even more mellow and family friendly.
“It’s a fall harvest event,” Megenhardt said, “the Fremont Oktoberfest is Seattle’s fall tradition.” He doesn’t see this as necessarily a ‘party in the streets’ kind of festival – although he does allow that for some attendees, raving with their friends is part of their celebration.
“The whole event was set up for people to come down and have a good time,” Megenhardt observed. Either with the rowdy crowd on Saturday, or for those who want to “party with the strollers,” as he described Sunday.
Something For All The Ages
For those who want the wild, loud, party experience – attend Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 20th, between 11a – Midnight. The University of Washington Huskies will be playing football, and the game will be broadcast on the big screen in the ‘Sports Bar’ (Fremont Studios,) with other games also showing on other screens. Before the game, watch a special, exhibition version of the Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving, where five carvers will make the pulp fly fast and far! Also, enjoy live music all day, with Richie Aldente, the Staxx Brothers, Dudley Manlove Quartet, Spyn Reset and others.
For those serious about sampling the beer, maybe check out Oktoberfest on Friday, September 19th, between 5p – Midnight. Be the first to try the seasonal ales, varied IPAs, special brews – and the ciders. There will be live music Friday night too, from 7p – 11p, with Naïve Melodies Plays Talking Heads, The High Council and Longstride. In the ‘Sports Bar’ you’ll find the Seattle Mariners fighting for a playoff spot.
On Sunday, Fremont Oktoberfest starts with a 5K run/walk at 10a. The Tasting Garden opens at 10:30a for those finished running, or those anxious to get started! Live music on Sunday includes K-indie Rock bands The Not-Its and Patchy Sanders – with a brief intermission for the full performance Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving. This year, nine carvers will compete but reigning champion – Ian ‘The Reasonably Alright’ Stone – must defend his title against returning, 4-time champ Danielle Logan.
Don’t forget the pooch, for the CityDog Cover Dog Model Search happens at 3p (pre-registration required,) although you don’t need to bring Rover along to enjoy watching the cute canines compete. Particularly as the whole event benefits the non-profit Reading With Rover program.
For those avoiding the 5K, consider taking the kids on a Fremont Street Scramble – a hunt around the area for answers to approximately 20 multiple-choice questions about our community. Adult teams can compete, but teams with children get discounts on registration. Pre-register for this through Street Scramble.com, or show up and register before start time at 10:30a.
In addition, enjoy The Zucchini 500 races, personal pumpkin carving (no chainsaws,) and the Rotary Club of Fremont’s bouncy house fun. Oh, and enjoy the Thomas Kemper Root Beer tasting!
Finally, all #12s, on Sunday, will be able to watch the Seattle Seahawks show their ultimate dominance, either in the Fremont Studios Sports Bar or from the Tasting Garden.
Beer, And More, For A Cause
Fremont Oktoberfest has plenty of beer (over 100 different flavors on-tap, from 50 different breweries) but attendees will find much, much more going on than just beverages. Come check it out, with friends and/or family, this weekend.
Tickets to the 2014 Fremont Oktoberfest can still be purchased on-line through the Fremont Oktoberfest website – and, remember, all proceeds from Fremont Oktoberfest go to the Fremont Chamber, for operations and community grant programs that benefit this community. Enjoy!
Related Articles
- All About Beer, At Fremont Oktoberfest
- by Kirby Lindsay, September 10, 2014
- Pumpkin Pulp, Made By Chainsaw
- by Kirby Lindsay, September 19, 2011
- Unscrambling The Fremont Street Scramble
- by Kirby Lindsay, September 19, 2012
©2014 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.