Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad Host 30th Annual Oktoberfest

Brush up on your Chicken dance! The Carlsbad Rotary Oktoberfest, a fall family tradition of feasting, fun and fundraising, will mark its 30th anniversary this year on Oct. 6.   

Tip Top Meats will be providing the traditional German dinner from noon until 8 p.m.,  Carlsbad Danish Bakery will be providing the amazing apple strudel, and loads of other great food will be everywhere.  Beers this year will include the traditional Budweiser and Beck’s Oktoberfest blend beers, Shock Top Belgian-style wheat ale and a craft beer from Oceanside Ale Works. The wine selections will be provided by Wente Vineyards, voted 2011 winery of the year by Wine Enthusiast magazine.

Live music will be played continuously this year, featuring the German/American band the Bluebirds, along with polka music from The Pacific Coast Community Band.  Live Rock & Roll will also be included in the festivities featuring The Last Call.  

The event will again offer the popular Rotary Pumpkin Patch where children can decorate pumpkins and compete for prizes in different age groups.  Moon jumps, clowns, face painting and caricaturists will keep all the little ones (and their parents!) entertained. 

Local parking is limited at Holiday Park located between Tamarack Avenue and Carlsbad Village Drive off the I-5 Freeway. A free shuttle bus will again be offered from the SW corner (Marron at Monroe) of the Westfield Plaza Camino Real Mall with pick-up and drop-off at 20-minute intervals from11:30AM until 10:30PM.

The Oktoberfest is organized by the Rotary Club of Carlsbad and the Carlsbad Hi-Noon Rotary Club.  “We are proud to be presenting Carlsbad’s premiere family event again this year,” said Mark Havel, Oktoberfest co-chairman. “The Oktoberfest is put on by volunteers and has through the years raised over a million dollars, of which 100% of the net proceeds are given to local charities.” 

The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation and the Carlsbad Police and Fire Explorers will be major recipients of the proceeds this year, and the two sponsoring Rotary Clubs use the remainder to support local charities, scholarships and other Rotary community projects.

The traditional German meal will be served until 8 p.m. While event admission is free, tickets for the German dinner are $10, and they may be purchased at the park or in advance from any Carlsbad Rotarian, or at Tip Top Meats at 6118 Paseo Del Norte in Carlsbad, or at Al’s Café in the Village at 795 Carlsbad Village Drive in Carlsbad.

For more information, visit rotaryoktoberfest.org.

–Rotary Clubs of Carlsbad