Bend Oktoberfest starts today
That’s right, the festivities start at 6pm today (until 10pm) and then all day tomorrow, from noon to 10pm. The page for it is here.
Activities for everyone-Celebrity Yodeling Contest, Hammer Schlagen, Wiener Dog Races
GREAT Kids Area with puppet shows, face painting and tons more until 6pm, Saturday, (21+ after 6pm Saturday)
Naturally there will be lots of beer pouring, as well as German food and live music. It only costs $5 to get in, but if you want the commemorative stein (which I would hope is glass), it’ll cost you another 15 bucks.
Food is billed at $3 per plate, and from their flyer looks to be provided by Deschutes Brewery, Merenda, the Blacksmith, and Volo.
And no, I don’t know what’s involved with the "celebrity yodeling"… though "wiener dog races" should speak for itself.
Oh, and it’s all self-contained on Oregon Avenue, between Brooks and Bond Street. Look for the big tent.
We went. We stood in line. We were told when we reached the front, that they were "at capacity" and couldn’t admit us.
But the line on the other side of the entry was still admitting people. While we waited and the staff argued and tried to figure out what they should do, at least 20 people left. But that didn’t matter, apparently. We were told to come back in "an hour or two". They thought "maybe" then they’d be able to let us in. But in the meantime, many people left, and they continued to admit people who already had wristbands.
FAIL. Very disorganized, very rude staff. We didn’t go back… at all.
We went to the Bend Burger Company for lunch instead (the new place that went in where Bluefish used to be located). The food was pretty good. The service was friendly but a little disorganized.
We went to see the wiener dog races and that was so much fun but too many people and the kids could not see. I hope they have then next year and in a larger area. That event is great for the kids. I’ll be back.