[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=39596.09

Oktoberfest Organizers Pleased By Turnout

Amanda Haverstick
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - One more day exists to partake in food and fun at Michigan City's Oktoberfest.

Event organizers Joe Doyle and Bill Greene - each decked out in lederhosen - were manning the event Saturday.

"It's great. We've got a good crowd here," Greene said. "So far, we're happy with the turnout."

Featured at Oktoberfest are live German music, German and Austrian food and spirits. The menu includes a sizable plate of sauerkraut, bratwurst, beef and potatoes.

"The food has been outstanding. The food is really German," Doyle said. "So far, it's been nothing but positives."

Something of a last hoorah for Michigan City's Summer Festival, this was the second year for Oktoberfest.

"Somebody said, 'why don't you have Oktoberfest in October?'" Greene said.

Doyle added, "We were able to see how we could do it better. It's become something most people really enjoy. It's a real nice festive attitude."

Saturday's musical groups included Eddie Korosa & the Boys from Illinois and Ein Prosit, a 25-piece German band with Alpine horns.

On Sunday,Virgil Baker & the Just 4 Fun Band will perform from noon to 6 p.m.

"One of the things we've added was the big band (Ein Prosit)," Doyle said.

The Society for Creative Anachronism on Saturday provided re-enactments of medieval German dances and sword fights.

"They've got swords, they've got shields," Doyle said. "Some of them, they look like they came from the 1600s."

Oktoberfest continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Michigan City Senior Center in Washington Park.


Contact Amanda Haverstick at ahaverstick@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

I stopped by after Mass and running. The crowd was very thin, and the food did not look good. I left and ate at Carlson's.