Get your lederhosen ready because the Central PA Tasting Trail is holding its first-ever Oktoberfest celebration at Grange Park in Centre Hall on Oct. 16.
The event will include fun activities for everyone, with food, music and, since it just wouldn’t be Oktoberfest without it, beer.
The Central PA Tasting Trail, which is organizing the celebration, is a collection of 13 craft beverage makers — four breweries, four wineries, two distilleries and three cideries — that call central Pennsylvania home.
All 13 members of the CPTT will be present at the event. Other regional breweries will also be there, adding to the fun.
The event will mark the first PA alcohol produced festival at Grange Park, said Celesta Powell, managing director of the PA Tasting Trail. She added that the event will provide an atmosphere of fun for people of all ages.
“People can expect an event that is focused on quality and community, much like every event you find at our member locations,” Powell said.
“We are so excited to offer this first ever opportunity at Grange in the most beautiful time of the year in PA. Our focus for our event is that all ages are able to come out and enjoy. We are working to provide non-alcoholic features, activities and games for all. Our members love our customers and love producing quality product and that will be showcased in a great venue with likeminded businesses.”
The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau has partnered with CPTT to provide shuttles and transportation to the event. The event was also supported with at tourism grant from HVAB.
“The HVAB and the Tourism Grant Committee were thrilled to see so many new ideas this year to complement a wonderful array of existing events in the county,” said Fritz Smith, president and CEO of The Happy Valley Adventure Bureau. “The Central PA Tasting Trail’s planned Oktoberfest is one of them. The inaugural event has tremendous potential to grow into a signature event for the area, showcasing the versatility of Grange Park in the process. We see it as one more of the many reasons why fall in Happy Valley, PA is so special.”
The day will kick off with a 5k coordinated by Left Right Repeat, with the winner tapping the kegs for the crowd.
Music begins at noon, and Luke Cimbala from local music promoter The Band Junkies is putting together a line-up that includes local artists, with German and Polka music played throughout the day to keep the Oktoberfest atmosphere alive.
“The Band Junkies are super excited for Oktoberfest at Grange Fair grounds,” Cimbala said. “This is one of the biggest events we have been a part of and we are looking forward to experiencing the day with all these local breweries. We booked eight incredible bands for the lineup: local favorites like Donny Burns, Lowjack and RamaLama, paired with the festive music of The Little German Band and a Polka band brought in from out of town.
“Be ready to rock the entire day while drinking delicious beer with friends and experience an Oktoberfest right here in central Pennsylvania.”
Tickets – $30 in advance, $35 day of and $15 for designated drivers — are available through Eventbrite and at CPTT members. The CPTT is going to pair with a non-profit to split profits made from the event.
Powell said she knows the date for the event is a little late for the traditional Oktoberfest in Germany, but “it coordinates beautifully with the fall foliage and a bye for Penn State football — as well as our brewers can finish off all of their fall beer in preparation for winter seasonals to arrive.”
This story appears in the Aug. 19-25 edition of The Centre County Gazette.
