St. Charles Oktoberfest Marks 25 Years

If it's late September, then it must be time for the St. Charles Oktoberfest.

The event, which celebrates German culture, marks its 25th anniversary this year. The free festival runs from 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Frontier Park on Riverside Drive in St. Charles.

While the event originally took place in October, organizers moved it to the last weekend in September six years ago. Yes, they are aware having Oktoberfest in September causes confusion.

"It is the No. 1 question we get asked every year," said Dan Foust, event chairman.

There were two reasons for the date change, one historical and one practical.

According to history—and the St. Charles Oktoberfest's website—the first Oktoberfest took place in 1810 in honor of the marriage of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Over time, the one-week celebration expanded to three weeks and now begins in September.

The practical reason had to do with regionalism, Foust said. Having the event in October meant competing with Soulard, Belleville and other area celebrations.

"What we found was the September date worked best for us. It gave us synergy with the region," Foust said. "There are only so many people who go to Oktoberfests, and they tend to go to all of them."

The event features a parade, car show, music (oompah and non-oompah), a 5K run, a dachshund race and fashion show, dancers and an area for children's activities.

The parade will be begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and will run a 1-mile route from the Foundry Art Centre down Main Street, left on Boone's Lick Road to Riverside Drive, ending at the Lewis and Clark Boathouse Museum parking lot. Last year, around 450 people and more than 60 vehicles took part in the parade. 

Two new events this year are the Run for the River 5K and the Beer, Brats and Steins Challenge. The 5K run begins at 9 a.m. Sunday and will follow Riverside Drive and the Katy Trail. The drinking, eating and stein-holding competition begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hofbrau Tent.

Popular returning events are the second annual Weiner Dog Derby 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Radeberger-Tucher Tent; the Suntrup BMW Vintage Car Show 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Sunday on Riverside Drive; and the Pumpkin Happening Children's Area featuring face painting, magic, balloons, pumpkin carving and live entertainment.

"My goal from day one has been a family-friendly festival to celebrate Oktoberfest," Foust said.

Musical entertainment will be provided by German-themed bands such as Die Spitzbuam, Deutschmeister Brass Band and Übercool Deutsch Rock Band. If you need a break from German music, Bone Daddy & the Blues Shakers, Fetch the Bone, and Laytham & Holmes will also perform.

"One of our main entertainers is the Obenheimer Express, a German band from France," Foust said. "It's their third time here in four years. We've become very good friends. They have quite a following here."

Eric Heilbronn, an accordion player from Obenheim in Alsace, started the group in the 1970s. Today his son, Alain, runs the show. 

"I started playing accordion when I was 8, clarinet at 11, bass guitar at 16 and saxophone at 18," Alain Heilbronn said. "I joined the band when I was 16. My father retired 9 to 10 years ago, and I took the lead of the band."

The Express was playing weddings, festivals and parties in the region, but in 2008, Heilbronn decided to expand the band's horizons. "I looked on the Internet and did a search for Oktoberfest and sent an email with a picture of the band and some music to all the Oktoberfests I could find," he said.

The first event they played in the United States was in Soulard. From there, it was a short hop to St. Charles.

"German music is the best music in the world to make people happy," Heilbronn said. "It's simple music, not complicated. It's the best music to make people dance and drink."