HIGHLANDS – The feel-good spirit of Highlands’ 14th annual Oktoberfest is modeled after the traditional Munich, Germany Oktoberfest with an emphasis on eating, drinking and being merry while providing something for everyone.
Authentic German food, live music, dancing and other great entertainment will be part of the Highlands Business Partnership’s annual event which will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, in Veterans Park on Bay and Shrewsbury avenues.
Admission and parking are free. The rain date will be noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct.5.
The park will festive with fall decorations. There will be a variety of foods and varieties of German beers.
Executive Chef Butch Greenwaldt is preparing the menu with plenty of traditional German favorites hot off the grill, including such favorites as bratwurst, knockwurst, kraut, potato pancakes, goulash, sauerbraten and Bavarian noodles along with other tasty fare those less adventurous.
There will be special Oktoberfest beers, both light and dark. The beer garden also will serve riesling and sangria wines.
The festival will feature live oompah and polka music, performed by the Ed Hendela Band. The Bayern Verien German Dancers will get the crowd moving. Festivities will include “best-dressed” and “beer-stein holding” contests with special prizes.
There also will be 50/50 drawings with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the lucky winners.
The festival is family friendly and there will be children’s activities, including bounce houses and face painting, along with a wide variety of retail, specialty and craft vendors.
The Highlands Business Partnership is a non-profit commercial alliance dedicated to fostering economic growth as well as preserving the area’s historic past. Programs and events are made possible by including, Shore Point Distributing Company, Comcast NBC Universal, WRAT 95, Montecalvo, Frank Rahm Landscaping, Hufnagel Tree Experts, T&M Associates, Seastreak and Sprinkler Master. Events are supported in part by a grant from state Department of State, Division of Travel and Tourism. Directions and additional information for the Oktoberfest are available by visiting www.highlandsnj.com or calling 732-291-4713.
