Andrea Prechtl, Eric Lanzel, AJ Alexander and Amy Lanzel model traditional German folk-style dress of drindls for frauleins (young women) and lederhosen for men. Prechtl is wearing a Lebkuchen, or sweetheart cookie, around her neck. The cookies will be available for purchase at the Sacred Heart Oktoberfest on Sept. 20. Photo by Cherry

By Amy Cherry

Daily Press Staff

    Organizers are continuing preparations for the Sacred Heart Church Oktoberfest being held on Sat., Sept. 20 from 6p.m.-12:30 a.m. Modeled after the 16-day German festival, the local Oktoberfest will feature a myriad of authentic German food, beverages, music and decor.

    Prior to the Oktoberfest, a special Mass is scheduled at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. At 6:15 p.m., a special blessing and keg tapping ceremony will be held, with dinner to follow from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and music and dancing taking place throughout the evening.

    Tickets for the event went on sale Aug. 11 and are available at the Sacred Heart Church rectory and Express Lube Car Wash on the Million Dollar Highway in St. Marys. Due to limited seating of eight people per table, reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Patrons can organize their own group of guests or specify with whom they prefer to be seated with.

    All proceeds from the event will be used for the Sacred Heart Building Fund. Two levels of sponsorship are also available. These donations will secure a sponsor table, tickets, a prime seating location, souvenir banner and recognition in the event program and advertising material.

    Organizers are aiming for a target attendance of between 350 to 400 people. In order to accommodate a large crowd, the

event will take place in the Sacred Heart Activity Center gymnasium.

    Included in the ticket price is a dinner of half a roast chicken, German potato salad, sauerkraut, bratwurst, Kasespaetzel - spaetzel, onion and cheese casserole - assorted breads and rolls and apple strudel. Each patron will receive their choice of a beer mug or wine glass which can be used to for unlimited beverages of beer, wine, soda, water and coffee.

    Patrons will also have the opportunity to purchase additional food items such as spiced nuts, Schmaltz, a type of lard used as a bread spread, Jagermeister tickets, Munich beer radishes, Bavarian soft pretzels and Lebkuchen or sweetheart cookies.

    Lebkuchen is a traditional German baked good resembling gingerbread cookies. They are significantly larger than an average cookie, measuring between 4-4.5 inches in diameter. A harder type of the cookie dough is used to create the Lebkuchen Hearts - or sweetheart cookies - which are typically inscribed with icing and are popular at German festivals and fairs.

    As part of the preparations committee members and other volunteers with a green thumb have taken on the task of growing Munich beer radishes. These salted radishes are a popular Bavarian snack, usually washed down with beer.

    What Oktoberfest is not complete without a variety of bands. Among those The Mad Bavarian Brass Band, hailing from Lebanon, NH, will entertain the crowd with traditional German marches, waltzes, polkas and “happy music.” The band is known for its crowd interaction and games. Among those they have done in the past are various dances, sing-alongs, numerous contests such as polkaing, yodeling, cake eating and chugging, designating a guest of honor and much more. Throughout the evening the band will disperse door prizes.

    An auction is also scheduled at the event.

    Members of he organizing committee are also planning to decorate the gymnasium in elaborate wall and ceiling decorations. Complete with crete paper, streamers, tableclothes, wreaths and Oktoberfest photos and posters, the decor has been created to replicate the intricate designs of traditional Oktoberfest tents in Germany.

    Special fabric of a a blue and white diamond design was ordered directly from Germany to enhance the decor and will be utilized for tableclothes, table runners and banners. The material is a replica of a Bavarian flag which represents the area of the country that provided money for early settlers to journey to the New World and eventually establish Marienstadt, now known as St. Marys.

    As a final touch many volunteers will don authentic German folk-style dress. Frauleins - young, unmarried women - will serve various food items while wearing dirndls consisting of a bodice and blouse, full skirt and apron. Male attendants may be seen in traditional lederhosen or leather knee-length trousers.

    The SH Oktoberfest committee recently received a $150 grant from the Elk County Council on the Arts (ECCOTA) and PA Council on the Arts.