Edmonds Beacon - Your Hometown News Source

Oktoberfest in September? Why not?

The Edmonds Rotary Club this week announced the launch of a new Edmonds Oktoberfest event scheduled Sept. 20-21 at the Frances Anderson Center field on Main Street in Edmonds.

The announcement comes after Edmonds Rotary President David Kaufer confirmed Wednesday that there are no plans for a Rotary-sponsored Waterfront Festival for 2020, which was also canceled this year.

In addition to Oktoberfest, which Kaufer hopes will become a new annual tradition, Edmonds Rotary is working on a series of smaller fundraiser events.

Oktoberberfest event will raise funds for a special inclusive playground at the planned Civic Park, as well as to support other Rotary programs.

Kaufer said Edmonds Oktoberfest will be the first event of its kind in the area, headlined by a brew fest featuring local breweries where visitors can taste samples. Wine and root beer will also be available.

“We’re excited and confident that Edmonds Oktoberfest will become a new favorite city tradition for a new generation of residents and businesses alike,” said Kaufer. “This will be an Edmonds kind of Oktoberfest, with its own unique twist on the traditional Bavarian fall festival.

“It won’t only be beer and wine, though. Edmonds Oktoberfest will also be a family friendly event, with activities and food for kids and parents alike.”

Activities will include:

• A kids area featuring bouncy houses at the upgraded playground area at Frances Anderson Field;
• Food trucks with an assortment of food bites parked along Eighth Avenue South;
• Urban Craft Uprising – featuring dozens of booths of local indie craft makers;
• A new 5K run and 1K fun run/Pet Parade; and
• More activities are in the planning stages

Raising money for a new inspirational play area

In addition to raising money for Edmonds-focused activities such as its student scholarship program and funding for the planned Edmonds Waterfront Center, Edmonds Rotary plans to work with the City of Edmonds on the new inclusive play area.

“We have helped build playgrounds in Edmonds – and around the world. But we’ve never helped build a play area quite like this playground, which will be similar to Inspiration Playground in Bellevue,” said Kaufer.

He added that the Bellevue Inspiration Playground has gained a reputation as a destination spot for Puget Sound families impacted by disabilities, both developmental and physical, and the hope is the Edmonds inclusive play area will become a destination spot for families as well.

“The new inclusive play area will be an exciting and imaginative new space at the new Edmonds Civic Park, where all ages and abilities will be able to play and explore at their own pace,” Kaufer said.

“We’re even hoping to include a carousel that can be accessed and enjoyed by those in wheelchairs – as well as all kids from age 5 to 95.”

Edmonds Oktoberfest is still in the planning stages and new details will be released soon through the website EdmondsOktoberfest.com and at Facebook.com/EdmondsRotaryOktoberfest.

“Supporting the first annual Edmonds Oktoberfest provides local breweries and businesses alike with an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of an exciting new event,” Kaufer said, “and build a foundation for an annual event that has the potential to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars that we can put into our community.”

More information about Edmonds Rotary, a contributor to the Edmonds community since 1951, can be found at EdmondsRotary.com.