CULLMAN – Plans for Oktoberfest 2017 are rounding out nicely, with a month to go. Last year’s event was the largest the city has seen, and members of the Oktoberfest Committee hope to see the record broken again. They shared the following with us.
Burgermeister
On Sept. 1, the Oktoberfest Committee announced the selection of John Dean to serve as 2017’s Burgermeister. A former agent for Alfa and Liberty National insurance companies, Dean is a co-founder and the vice president / marketing director of Goat Island Brewing, and has been a fixture in the Oktoberfest Biergarten for several years.
Schedule of events
SUNDAY, OCT. 1
• 3 p.m. – Sacred Heart’s Combined Choir Concert at the church
MONDAY, OCT. 2
• 8-5 Mon. – Sun. Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild during museum hours
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – school tours
• 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz, German music
• 5-7 p.m. – St. John's German Dinner at the church
TUESDAY, OCT. 3
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – school tours
• 10:30 a.m.- 2 p.m. – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Terri Pines Country Club German Lunch Buffet, reservation required
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz, German music
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 4
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – school tours
• 10:30 a.m.- until – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz, German music
• 5-10 p.m. Wed. –Thurs. Carriage rides at Festhalle
• 5-7 p.m. – Sacred Heart German Dinner at the church
• 5-10 p.m. – Alabama Craft Bier Garten
• 6-7 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies; Burgermeister introduction; Miss Oktoberfest crowning; tapping of the kegs; Hanceville High School German Band
• 6-10 p.m. – children’s activities, parking lot
• 7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest
• 7-10 p.m. Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express, German music
• 8:30 p.m. – Stein Hoist Contest
THURSDAY, OCT. 5
• 7 a.m.-5 p.m. – farmers’ market
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. – Senior Day
• 10-11:30 a.m. – Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express, German music
• 10:30 a.m.- until – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 11:30 a.m.-noon – Senior Day lunch
• Noon-2 p.m. – Senior Day bingo
• 5:30-6:30 Forgotten Alabama, presentation and discussion with author Glen Wills at the Cullman Public Library
• 5-10 p.m. – Alabama Craft Biergarten
• 5:50-6:15- Cullman Community Band with Gary Taylor
• 6-10 p.m. – Children’s activities, parking lot
• 6:30 p.m. – Pickle Eating Contest
• 7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest
• 8 p.m. – Candlelight Walking Tour from Weis Cottage corner of Fourth Street Southeast and First Avenue Southeast
• 6:30-10 p.m. Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express, German music
• 8:30 p.m. – Stein Hoist Contest
FRIDAY, OCT. 6
• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. – school tours
• 10:30 a.m.- until – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz, German music
• 3-6 pm- Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express
• 3:30-midnight – Alabama Craft Bier Garten
• 4 p.m. – Avenue G, band
• 4-10 p.m. – Children’s activities, parking lot
• 5-7 p.m. – Christ Lutheran Church German Dinner at the church
• 5 p.m.- until – Cullman Oktoberfest Classic Car Show, 1st Ave. Warehouse District downtown
• 6 p.m.- ghost stories at the gazebo hosted by Cullman County Library
• 6:15-8 p.m. – The Beatlads (Beatle cover band)
• 6:30 p.m. – Pickle Eating Contest
• 7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest
• 8:15-10 p.m. – Overtones, band
• 8:30 p.m. – Stein Hoist Contest
• 10:15-midnight – Riley Green (from Rock the South)
SATURDAY, OCT. 7
• 7 a.m.-5 p.m. – farmers’ market
• 8 a.m. – Oktoberfest 5K & 10K run (registration starts at 7 a.m.)
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Arts & Crafts at Depot Park
• 8 a.m.-10 p.m. – Children’s activities, parking lot
• 9-5 pm- Oktoberfest Junior Sidewalk Art Show in front of City Hall, prizes awarded
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. – K-9 For A Cause, Cullman Kiwanis Club at Depot Park (registration at 8 a.m.)
• Carriage rides all day
• 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Cullman Middle and Cullman High School Choruses (tentative)
• 10 a.m.-midnight – Alabama Craft Bier Garten
• 10:30 a.m.- until – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• 10:45 a.m.-noon – WSCC Singers, WSCC Jazz Band (tentative)
• Noon – Lions Club Bed Race, Depot
• 12:30 p.m. – Bratwurst Eating Contest
• 1-2:45 p.m. – Ashley Rose Kent, singer
• 3-6 p.m. – Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express, German music
• 3 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest Finals
• 4-7 p.m. – St. Paul's Lutheran Church Oktoberfest Dinner
• 4-7 p.m.- Corn Hole Tournament at Goat Island Brewing sponsored by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, can register online or on-site
• 6:15-7:55 p.m.- County Wyde, band
• 8:15-9:45 p.m.- Round 2, band
• 9:45 p.m. – Stein Hoist Contest
• 10 p.m. – Fly by Radio, band
SUNDAY OCT. 8
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Arts & Crafts at Depot Park
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – Children’s activities, parking lot
• 9-11:45 a.m. – Wolfgang Moritz, German music
• 10:30 a.m.- until – Freddie Day Catering, German food
• Noon-1:30 p.m. – Bluewater Road, band
• 1:35-2:15- Cotton Pickin’ Kids, band
• 2:25-3:25 p.m. – Roy Crawford and Cullman County Bluegrass, band
• 3:35-5 p.m. – Three on a String, band
Bands and entertainers
- The BeatLads
- Bluewater Road
- Terry Cavanagh & the Alpine Express
- Cotton Pickin' Kids
- County Wyde
- Roy Crawford
- Cullman Community Band with Gary Taylor
- Dr. Bill’s Mountain Music
- Fly by Radio
- Riley Green
- Hanceville High School German Band
- Ashley Rose Kent
- Wolfgang Moritz
- Round 2
- Sacred Heart Concert Choir
- Three on a String
Friday night’s entertainer Riley Green is a rising star in country music, and became well-known to Cullman audiences with his performance at Rock the South.
Food vendors
- Johnny's Bar-B-Q – BBQ sandwiches, BBQ nachos, fried pies, brats, chips
- Manna Foods – funnel cakes, deep fried Oreos, candy bars, corn dogs, drinks, lemonade
- Devil Dawgs – hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, funnel cakes, fries, lemonade, tea
- Mad Dog Mikes – chicken schnitzel, BBQ chicken sandwiches, chic on a stick, fried apple pies, BBQ sandwiches, smoked sweet potatoes, BBQ sweet potatoes, German chicken fritters, salads
- Bratwurst Stand – imported German mustard, hotdogs, authentic German brats
- Firehouse Grill/ Taco Mamas – tacos, nachos, quesadillas, chili, grilled cheese, BBQ ribs
- Sparky's Catfish – fried catfish, chicken tenders, shrimp, wings, fries, wiener schnitzel, hushpuppies
- The “I Love Bacon Truck” – truth in advertising–all things bacon
- Freddie Day catering – German meals daily under the Festhalle
Senior Day
Senior Day will be held Thursday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Terry Cavanagh and the Alpine Express. From 11:30 a.m.-noon, there will be the free lunch for seniors, and senior bingo will be held from noon-2 p.m.
Oktoberfest Committee President Marsha Franks said, "I'm happy that we have Riley Green playing Oktoberfest this year. He's our very own Alabama boy that is turning into big country star. We are happy that Steel City Pops will be coming back this year and more food vendors this year. We will have barbecue, catfish and (the) I love Bacon Truck. So come out with your family and have a good time."
Committee Vice President Michael Kimbrough added, "We are excited about this year’s bands and food line up. We strive to make Oktoberfest better every year for the people of Cullman. Oktoberfest has grown every year in the past four years, and it has been one of the best things to do in Cullman."
Find out more at www.facebook.com/cullmanoktoberfest.
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