OKTOBERFEST Rotary prepares for 27th festival

The Oktoberfest is the single largest fund-raiser for the Boardman Rotary.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Thousands of craftsmen, vendors and patrons will converge on Boardman Township Park this weekend for the 27th annual Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest, sponsored by the Boardman Rotary, will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday along the main entrance road to the park. There will be free shuttle service all day between the Heart Center on Southern Boulevard and the park.
The Rotary has been successfully sponsoring the event for 27 years. Bill Sweeney of the organization said it began with the desire by Rotary members to hold a simple community day. Rotary members, Sweeney said, also wanted to give nonprofit organizations a chance to raise funds.
"One of the main reasons for Oktoberfest was that a great number of nonprofits and service organizations did not have the means to put on fund-raisers," he said. "We allow them to come in and set up a booth or do some type of fund raising."
Sweeney said between 15 and 20 nonprofit and service organizations are expected to be on hand this Sunday. He said there will likely be about 300 separate vendors.
Enjoying the park
Sweeney said Oktoberfest in the park has been successful for one primary reason: the beauty of Boardman Park in the fall. He said those attending the event enjoy being in the park at this time of year and use that as a backdrop to take in all that the event has to offer.
"I think we have the right venue," Sweeney said. "It's early fall. It's beautiful in the park and people like to stroll through the park to enjoy the entire thing. [The event] is laid out quite uniquely."
Most of those who regularly attend Oktoberfest, Sweeney said, come out for the crafts. This year, however, organizers have included an additional incentive -- entertainment.
Performers
Sweet Adeline Chorus will be performing from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Fins to the Left will take the stage in the park from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sweeney said organizers felt adding entertainment would make the event more appealing to a larger audience.
"As Oktoberfest continues to grow, like anything else it changes, and we are just trying to make sure those who come out have more than just one thing to participate in," he said. "You don't have to come out just for the crafts."
Sweeney noted the Oktoberfest is the largest single fund-raiser for the Boardman Rotary, bringing in about $60,000 annually. The Rotary, he said, contributes about $90,000 to the community in the form of gifts for such things as a gazebo now in Boardman Park.
jgoodwin@vindy.com