Did you know “virtual” in German is “virtuell,” according to Google Translate?
Neither did we, but you can tout your newfound knowledge at any of the in-person or “virtuell” events at Oktoberfest.
ArtsQuest’s 10th annual Oktoberfest celebration will run on Sept. 26 and 27 and be jam-packed with food and fun, including your typical festival favorites. Because of crowd concerns due to COVID-19, the festival will only partially be held at the ArtsQuest campus, but there’ll still be plenty of oom-pah-ing both in person and at home.
The in-person activities are highlighted by what’s become a bread-and-butter move for ArtsQuest: outdoor dining and a show. A hearty German menu — including a loaded potato pancake covered in corned beef brisket, fried sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and Reuben-style dressing, and Schweinshaxe (roasted pork shank) served over browned butter spaetzle and cabbage — will be accompanied by some hearty German tunes. The Schützengiggles will grace the stage at the Air Products Town Square on Sept. 26. Polkadelphia will follow on Sept. 27.
Seating reservations, which cost $10, will open at 9 a.m. on Wednesday for ArtsQuest members and at 9 a.m. on Friday for the general public. A reservation can be made in one of two different time slots: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Food vendors will also be available for to-go orders at the PNC Plaza, including Karl Ehmer, Heaven on a Bun, Waffle de Lys, and Heidi’s Strudel & Island Expressions.
Other Oktoberfest favorites are happening in some capacity. The annual Steinholding competition will happen virtually at first with the finals taking place in-person on Sept. 27. The annual weiner dog races are now coming in the form of a virtual parade, and the Hasselhoff-off will be held on Zoom and Facebook Live. But other events, like Dragtoberfest, some family-centered art workshops at the Banana Factory and a Chalk The Walk coloring contest will all be in person.
All info and tickets can be found on the Oktoberfest section of the SteelStacks website.
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Connor Lagore may be reached at [email protected].
