By Patrick Olivero
HIGHLANDS – A week after a nor’easter flooded parts of the borough, visitors filled Veterans Park Oct. 3 for Highlands Oktoberfest, gathering for German food, live music and a fall celebration hosted by the Highlands Business Partnership.
The flooding had raised questions about whether the event could proceed. The partnership credited the Highlands’ Department of Public Works with a swift cleanup and said the park itself had escaped flooding during the storm. Those circumstances allowed organizers to move ahead with the gathering.
Visitors settled at rows of picnic tables, while vendor tents lined the park. Many arrived in Oktoberfest attire, including embroidered lederhosen, colorful dirndls and Tyrolean hats, some decorated with feathers. Pumpkins and a table stocked with decorating supplies added another seasonal detail.
Traditional German dishes included bratwurst, knockwurst, kraut, potato pancakes, goulash, sauerbraten and Bavarian noodles. Bahrs Landing prepared the festival menu, according to the event page, which also listed best-dressed and beer stein-holding contests among the planned activities.
The celebration also served a fundraising purpose for the partnership. Organizers said their goal was to raise enough money to cover expenses for the remainder of the year and establish a solid financial foundation heading into the new year. That goal extended beyond the October gathering. Organizers hoped the proceeds would put the partnership in a stronger position as it began fundraising for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, connecting the fall event with preparations for another date on Highlands’ community calendar.
This article originally appeared in the October 8-14, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
