Glenville Oktoberfest has focused on family fun for 15 years

“It’s a great family event,” said Hennel, chairman of the Glenville Oktoberfest committee, the volunteer group tasked with planning the festival since its inception in 2010.

Entering its 15th year, this installment of the Glenville Oktoberfest will feature much of what has made the event such a popular attraction over the years. There will be dozens of vendors selling everything from handmade crafts to fresh-baked goodies, a car show and a spectacular fireworks display to cap the night.

There will also be two biergartens, including one sponsored by Wolf Hollow Brewing.

Gregory and the Brauhaus Band are set to take the stage when the festival doors open at noon. Also set to perform are Roxy and the Rollers and Herbie and His Accord-A-Tones, while the band Bavarski is set to headline.

German dance performances and helicopter rides will take place throughout the day and there will be opportunities to play classic Oktoberfest games including cornhole, hammer spielen and stein hoisting.

The Schenectady County Sheriff's Office will also host K-9 demonstrations, and Bobcat of Schenectady will be showing off a few pieces of equipment. 

Also on tap: German-style beer and cuisine, courtesy of the German-American Club of Albany.

The club, established in 1895 to expand German culture, has participated in the event every year.

“When the committee from the town of Glenville reached out to us we thought this was really a good partnership that we could have with them to really expose the community to more German culture,” said Karin Becker, the club’s treasurer.

Becker, whose parents grew up in Germany, said the event is rooted in German tradition, but she believes its focus on family entertainment is what makes it unique compared with similar festivals throughout the region.

“It’s family-oriented,” she said of the Glenville event. “The town really puts forth every effort to have activities not only for adults but they do a lot of stuff for the kids as well.”

Oktoberfest has been a tradition in Munich, Germany, since 1810 as a way to mark the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. The event has gained worldwide popularity in the past two centuries.

“It’s bringing that Oktoberfest here locally, but it also incorporates the family,” Becker said. “I think that’s the nice thing the town of Glenville has done is that they've really made it more of a family event.”

Becker said the German-American Club will be serving German potato salad, wurst, pretzels, goulash, sauerkraut and German-style beer, including lager, wheat ale and classic Oktoberfest-style brew.

“It’s the best beer around,” she said.

The event has grown considerably since its inception 15 years ago.

Originally created as a way to attract visitors to town, the festival was held at the Schenectady County Airport. It quickly grew to a point where the airport no longer was a viable host site.

So the Glenville Oktoberfest moved to the more spacious Maalwyck Park, where it has continued to flourish for more than a decade.

“We branded it Munich on the Mohawk as a way to get people to go down there,” Hennel said. “It’s an awesome look when you come down the hill off of Route 5 and see all the different tents. It looks very authentic to what you might see in Germany as well.”

Hennel attributes the event’s growth and success to its family focus, but was quick to note that the Glenville Oktoberfest would not take place without the support of the town and dozens of sponsors whose contributions allow organizers to keep the event free.

First National Bank of Scotia is the event’s title sponsor. Marshall & Sterling Insurance, Fogg’s Automotive and Bobcat of Schenectady are also sponsors.

“We don’t charge any admission. We don’t charge to park,” Hennel said. “So folks can come on down and have some fun, walk around the fields and see the different stuff that’s there. It’s totally free.”

Glenville Oktoberfest will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at Maalwyck Park. For information, visit glenvilleoktoberfest.com or Facebook.com/GlenvilleOktoberfest.