39th Annual Tempe Oktoberfest Brings Family Fun andn
Old-World Tradition to Tempe Town Lake
By Dave Cooper
Oktoberfest conjures up a lot of imagery, mostly thoughts of fun and revelry. Beer, brats, and polka music come to mind, too. And Tempe has been celebrating this traditional Bavarian-style fest in style since 1973. Beginning Friday October 7th Tempe Town Lake Park again hosts this favorite Valley event. The event goes through Sunday.
Tempe’s 39th Annual Tempe Oktoberfest is a free, three-day outdoor festival. Food, beverages and other odds and ends may require a fee. Activities include a wide selection of things to do for everyone and the event is family friendly. Three stages placed around the festival grounds host a variety of live sounds featuring Rock, Blues and R&B, Country, Rockabilly, Celtic, Funk, and much more. Included in the mix is a stage dedicated to traditional non-stop Polka music all weekend.
Kicking off the weekend’s festivities Friday at 5:00pm, the main stage will host Cousin Affect and its brand of funky-progressive, goal-inspired hip hop. The Crown Kings follow at 8:30pm playing a mix of hard driving rock originals. The Budweiser stage features three acts Friday night leading off with Arizona's premier high-energy Motown Funk outfit The JJ’s Band at 7:00pm. Polka sounds take over next at 9:00pm with Das Aubachtal Sextett. Closing out Friday’s music from 10:00 until midnight is Tempe-based Black Carl, an Indie, funk-soul, rock band.
Saturday’s main stage live music lights up first at 11:30am featuring the KC Blues Band. Jumping in next from 2:00-5:00pm is long time Valley favorite Cold Schott and the Hurricane Horns with its 8-piece group and rocking rhythm section. The main stage line-up continues at 5:30pm with more original sounds by Tempe band Dry River Yacht Club with Das Aubachtal Sextett following at 7:30pm. From northeastern Arizona, Mogollon is Saturday’s main stage headliner performing high-energy southern rock -- Hank Williams to Pink Floyd -- from 8:00pm to 12am.
Saturday’s Budweiser stage line up begins at noon with one of Arizona's most decorated funk-soul-blues bands The DelRayz. From 2:30-5:30pm it’s the Cadillac Angels playing a roots-rockabilly-surf hybrid. Country Rock sounds with Chad Freeman and Redline are up next at 5:30pm and Arizona’s premiere Irish rock band the Keltic Cowboys shut it down Saturday from 9:00pm until 12:00am.
There’s a trifecta of encore performances on the main stage Sunday featuring the Cadillac Angels at noon followed by Das Aubachtal Sextett at 2:30pm with Mogollon wrapping it up at 3:00pm. On the Budweiser stage Sunday you’ll hear The Lil’ Debbie Band playing a plethora of popular cover tunes beginning at noon. The Sugar Thieves, Arizona’s meat-shakin’ blues band, fires up at 3:00pm and keeps it rolling until sunset. 
Several food courts will be on hand serving Oktoberfest-favorite brats with sauerkraut. Also available are popular carnival food items like corn dogs, nachos and turkey legs. There will be BBQ and roasted corn, pizza, pretzels and plenty of sweet treats. And what’s an Oktoberfest without lots of cold brew? In addition to domestic beer, an assortment of 22 German crafted beers is on tap for a special sampling offer. For those craving a touch of the grape, wine gardens are available to serve your favorite vintage.
This year’s Tempe Oktoberfest features several activities for the kids and family. Arizona Adopt-A-Greyhound Inc. presents what will be an ultra-amusing event – wiener dog races – as pure-bred German Dachshunds race for special treats. Races are held from 2:00-4:00pm Sunday at the Tempe Beach Ball Field adjacent to festival grounds.
Kinderfest is designed to entertain youth with special arts and crafts projects, including a contest called Passport to Oktoberfest. Passports are available at the Tempe Sister City Information Booth. Carnival rides and interactive games are available. Ticket prices vary.
Another popular attraction to the Tempe Oktoberfest is the Frank Kush Oktoberfest Family Fun Foot Race. This friendly competition mixes several distances including a 5K run, 5K run/walk, also a 1K run/walk. Race organizers dare you to dress in authentic Bavarian lederhosen and dirndls as you traverse the course. There is a fee to participate in the running events. Proceeds benefit the Frank Kush Youth Foundation, the Tempe and Kyrene School Districts and the Tempe Sister City Corporation.
The 2011 Oktoberfest at Tempe Town Lake will also have a German Shoppe where Oktoberfest souvenirs and merchandise can be purchased.
For details on all activities and events at this year’s Tempe Oktoberfest, plus information on public transportation, parking options and what can be brought on to the festival grounds visit TempeOktoberfest.com.