Thousands are expected to come to Montrose to celebrate the 40th anniversary of local Oktoberfest.

By Charly SHELTON

It’s that time of year again – time for chicken hats, warm potato salad and German oompah music. It’s time for Montrose’s Oktoberfest. The annual Montrose event, now celebrating its 40th year, is back once again with carnival rides, performance stages, domestic, German and craft beers, bratwurst, strudel and more lederhosen than you know what to do with.

“We are the largest outdoor, non-beer garden event in Southern California,” said Melinda Clarke, executive director of the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce and event organizer. “That’s kind of the uniqueness to our event, that you can bring your family and there’s stuff for kids to do. It’s a different kind of Oktoberfest; it has just got different elements to it, trying to keep it more community-minded.”

In that spirit, Clarke said, the carnival rides will be discounted from noon to 4 p.m. to accommodate the local families who want to come down for the day before the nightlife crowds hit once the sun goes down. There will also be German singers and a German brass band performing on the main stage, and they will accompany several contests that take place throughout the day and night.

“Participating in the contests is so much fun. We have the Mr. and Mrs. Oktoberfest, the [Lil’ Miss and Master Oktoberfest for] little kids – the more the merrier – we have the [best dressed pet] contest, the stein holding contest, and all of this takes place on the main Oktoberfest Bavarian stage at Ocean View Boulevard and Honolulu Avenue,” Clarke said. “We didn’t try to blow this thing out, we just try to keep it simple because it is really for the community to enjoy and to have a place to come.”

Over the last 40 years, this event has grown to become one of the largest in the country, and the fourth longest running Oktoberfest in SoCal. Originally begun to honor the heritage of the large German population of the Crescenta Valley, it has expanded into the top Oktoberfest for nightlife and entertainment, according to CBS. In honor of the 40th anniversary, there will be a special ceremony on the main stage at 4:30 p.m.

“We’re going to have a commemorative ceremony on the main stage recognizing that it’s the 40th anniversary celebration. This is a small town community and [we will just have a small announcement] because we don’t want the whole world to show up,” Clarke said. “We’re just trying to get the word out in the community and celebrate the 40th, and thank the community for participating and being here. It’s really about the community. Not making it bigger, not making it louder … it is just making it available for the families to come and enjoy.”

Oktoberfest will be held on Saturday, Oct. 7, from noon to 11 p.m. in the 2200, 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue. The event is free to attend, with ticket sales on-site for food, drinks and rides. To avoid the lines and save money, the MVCCoC is offering a $40 ticket package for preorder this year. It includes $40 worth of tickets for food, drinks and rides, and comes with an Oktoberfest 40th anniversary T-shirt and sling backpack tote. The package can be purchased online and picked up at will-call on the day of the event. To purchase the ticket package, and for more info, visit Oktoberfest.MontroseChamber.org.

  Charly Shelton