ROGERS — Downtown Rogers will take on an international flair Saturday with polka music, German food and regional craft brewers offering artisan beers during Oktoberfest, sponsored by Main Street Rogers.
At A Glance (w/logo)
Oktoberfest Schedule
• The event is from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
• The intersection of First and Elm streets will be closed to traffic Saturday morning.
• Ballet Westside students will demonstrate polka dancing at 11 a.m. on the Frisco Stage.
• The JM Big Band will take the stage from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. performing a mix of swing, pop, show tunes and rock and roll.
• Whisky Menders will perform blues and rock on the Frisco Stage from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
• Bobby Bridger and John Inmon will entertain from 3 to 4 p.m.
• 3 Penny Acre will perform from 4 to 6 p.m.
• Rogers native Josh Noren will front a Nashville pop and rock band from 6 to 8 p.m.
Source: Staff Report
Activities are scheduled 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. along First and Elm streets. Four bands will perform, and there will be a dinner featuring handmade bratwurst on a bun and German potato salad. Other foods offered by vendors include pretzels, corn dogs and barbecue.
Chef Michael Kuefner and students in the NorthWest Arkansas Community College culinary arts program will make the bratwurst and potato salad. The bratwurst special is only available to ticket holders.
“We are selling the tickets for the bratwurst special in advance,” said Dana Mather, Main Street Rogers event coordinator. “We are only offering 200 tickets, so I don’t know if there will be any tickets left the day of the event.”
The dinner includes sauerkraut, spicy mustard and a bottle of water for $10 a person.
Tickets are available at www.mainstreetrogers. com. If any tickets remain on Saturday, they will be sold at the event.
To add to the flavor of the event, 10 regional brewers will offer craft beers.
A&B Distributors is furnishing a new feature that may please beer drinkers and football fans alike, Mather said.
“They are bringing a semitrailer that opens into a bar area, complete with seats and four big screen televisions for festival-goers who want to watch college football during the event,” Mather said.
Main Street Rogers officials hope Oktoberfest is big draw for downtown, but merchants have mixed feelings.
“I think it great. As a new business owner, we will take advantage of anything that brings people downtown,” said Clay Starkey, co-owner of Showcase Trophies & Award, 121 W. Walnut St.
“We are still learning about downtown Rogers. We are thrilled to be in downtown because it has a real hometown feel and there are some many businesses downtown. We are planning to stay open Saturday night for Oktoberfest,” he said.
Another downtown merchant expressed concern that this weekend might not be the best for Oktoberfest.
“The War Eagle Craft Fair is this weekend. We know that brings thousands of people to the area. It seems to me it would have been better to schedule Oktoberfest for another weekend. The two events might work against each other,” said Kathryn Greenlee, owner of the The Cottage @ the Red Barn, 121 E. Poplar St.
Main Street Rogers officials said Oktoberfest could become a regular event.
“We’ll have to wait and see if people and merchants enjoy a Saturday event before we commit to making it a regular event,” Mather said.