October is known for its fall colors, wet season and Halloween, but many people don’t think about the German holiday called Oktoberfest.
Fortunately, there are volunteers at the University of Idaho who are helping the community get involved in the event.
This event is Saturday Oct. 22, in the 1912 Center Great Room at 412 East 3rd Street from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. Local businesses and UI will be hosting the third annual Oktoberfest. The first 40 visitors to arrive at the event will also receive free Oktoberfest mugs.
According to Kevin Harvey-Morose, vice president of the Lutheran Campus Council at the UI and an organizer of the event, Oktoberfest was originally, a celebration of the fall harvest within German communities to bring them together.
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While the event no longer correlates with the harvest, it’s still focused on a sense of community.
“It’s about sharing a different flavor and creating a good community and good times,” Harvery-Morose said.
This event promises to do just that. All of the food is made locally in the Palouse. Meat comes from the university’s very own Vandal Brand Meats. German style bread is from Moscow Artesian Breads. Moscow Wine Comvpany will also be supplying drinks for purchase.
Other locals will be bringing homemade German dishes as well as desserts that are likely unknown to locals, said Harvey-Morose said.
“It’s exciting because it’s all authentic food passed down from generation to generation and there’re food you don’t see commonly in the U.S.,” Harvey-Morose said.
He also said that this is a way people can celebrate a bit of their own heritage, while simultaneously celebrating being a part of Moscow and he encourages anyone interested to attend.
To add to the experience, there will be a silent auction and raffle tickets to win prizes. Along with the authentic German cuisine and environment, there will be a local German band, “Auf Gehts,” who will be performing throughout the event, Harvey-Morose said.
Dancing is encouraged and ongoing during the event as a welcoming celebration of Moscow’s community, he said.
Tickets are available at the door at $15 for adult, $10 for students, $7 for children and free for three-years-old and under. All proceeds will go to the Lutheran Campus Ministry at UI as a community outreach, Harvey-Morosehe said. It is really an event by the community for the community that is at the core of Oktoberfest event, Harvey-Morose said.
Mary Emert can be reached at [email protected]