Oktoberfest coming to town

Contributed report

If the turnout to Grillbilly Days is any indication, folks will be happy to hear that more fun is on the way courtesy of The Butchery of Maple Lake.

In June, The Butchery attracted crowds of people to its doors with celebrity signings, food, live music, and special discounts on meats.

Owner Doug Lindenfelser recently announced that The Butchery will be partnering with Dangerous Man Brewing to host another fun event this fall – Oktoberfest.

On Friday, Sept. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. join the two local businesses as they celebrate their Germain heritage with craft beer on tap, traditional German foods, and live music from the 10-piece Elk River German Band.

“We’re going to sprinkle a little German into this Irish town,” Lindenfelser said.

In addition to beer brats (made with Dangerous Man brew), sauerkraut and German potato salad, Lindenfelser will be sharing a family tradition, homemade, soft pretzels. The Lindenfelser family makes these every year, and they are “awesome,” Lindenfelser said.

Like Grillbilly Days, the event will take place in the parking lot outside The Butchery just off Highway 55 West in Maple Lake (next to BP Amoco). Unlike Grillbilly Days, it will last only one evening instead of four days.

This is a family friendly event, Lindenfelser stressed. There will be root beer for the kids and a tent in case it rains. The Elk River German Band has been well received throughout Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Wisconsin where they have played at Oktoberfests, Heritagefests, Sommerfests and Germanfests. In 1994, the band conducted a two-week performance tour of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Formed 30 years in Elk River, the band plays the Bavarian style of German music and has produced several recordings available on cassette tape and compact disc.

Visitors to the event can also expect to find some specials on Butchery products that day, Lindenfelser said.

From 4 to 8 p.m., The Butchery’s first ever Oktoberfest in Maple Lake will feature German foods, music and craft beer on tap brewed locally at Dangerous Man Brewing in Maple Lake.