Fallsnewspress.com - Falls Oktoberfest marks 31st year

by Phil Keren

Editor

Cuyahoga Falls -- Though it's happening sooner than it has in the past, the city's annual Oktoberfest will still offer all of the expected music, food and drink, arts and crafts, and other features that has helped make it the longest running festival in Cuyahoga Falls.

The 31st annual Cuyahoga Falls Oktoberfest will take place Sept. 10, 11 and 12 at Falls River Square. Times for the event are 5 p.m. to midnight on Sept. 10, noon to midnight on Sept. 11 and noon to 8 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Falls River Square is at Broad Boulevard and Riverfront Parkway near Front Street in downtown Cuyahoga Falls. It is located just off Route 8.

The yearly celebration usually occurs in late September or early October, but organizers decided to have the event sooner to hopefully take advantage of better weather.

"The main reason [for changing the dates] was the weather," said Bob Cochran, the event's chairman. "We're pretty sure it's going to be warmer. The last couple of years, it's been kind of chilly."

Attendance at the 2009 Oktoberfest was hurt by rainy, cold and breezy conditions, according to Cochran, who estimated that "less than 10,000" people attended last year. This year, officials are hoping that more than 25,000 people attend.

According to Cochran, event officials also wanted to eliminate the gap in time between the conclusion of Rockin' on the River and the staging of Oktoberfest.

He said "there was that one-month break between" the end of Rockin' on the River and the start of Oktoberfest. By having the event a little closer to the end of Rockin', which concluded Aug. 27, Cochran said organizers are hoping that more people will still "be in the mood" for another downtown festival.

Event features

As always, attendees can listen and dance to bands playing German music, rock 'n' roll, country, and rhythm and blues. A variety of German food will be available, and visitors can also check out arts and crafts booths that will offer items such as jewelry, tye dye clothing, face painting and sand art.

"If it's not broken, you don't fix it," said Cochran. "We know pretty much what we're doing. We've made minor adjustments over the years."

There will be a "sports bar" set up in the Falls River Square pavilion. The area will have two 50-inch screen televisions and high-level tables where people can stand and enjoy a beer while watching sporting events.

Last year, the bar was set up in the north parking deck, said Cochran, who noted organizers felt it would be better to have the venue on the mall.

The football season will be in full swing for the sports bar: In college football, Ohio State will square off against Miami (Fla.) at 3:40 p.m. on Sept. 11 and in pro football, the Cleveland Browns will play Tampa Bay at 1 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Cochran said there will not be specialty beers served this year; only draft beer and drinks like Mike's Hard Lemonade.

Another new feature is that event headquarters will be at the Alhambra building near the pavilion; previously it was at the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. Event brochures and information will be at the headquarters; event beer mugs will be sold there, too.

One event staple was not brought back: The Baby Bee contest will not take place, according to event committee member Jeff Kline. "There was very little participation last year," said Kline " ... It may be back some day."

Both the Cuyahoga Falls High School and Woodridge High School marching bands usually perform at Oktoberfest. Cochran said the Falls High Marching Band will not perform because the group is having its Tag Day fundraiser on Sept. 11. The Woodridge High School Marching Band will still attend and perform.

Local groups benefit from event

Much of the funds raised during Oktoberfest are given to local charitable organizations.

"We hope to raise about $15,000 for the charities," said Cochran.

Proceeds from the event benefit: Cuyahoga Falls Veteran War Memorial; Falls Cancer Club; Scholarships to Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge High School students; Clock Tower; Good Neighbors; Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge High School Bands; FOCUS; Muscular Dystrophy; Cuyahoga Falls M & M's; D.A.R.E.; Cuyahoga Valley Art Center; YMCA; Cuyahoga Falls Chamber of Commerce; Parks and Recreation; Summa Western Reserve Hospital; Cuyahoga Falls Library; Cuyahoga Falls and Northampton Historical Societies; Little Black Tigers; Pontoon Boats; Cuyahoga Falls High School Athletic Dept.; Children's Network; Cuyahoga Falls Challenger Little League; Laybourne Sports Center; Akron Zoo; and Boys State.

The following groups donated to Oktoberfest: Donato's; Don Sitts Auto Sales; The River Brasserie & Bar; Ed Denholm D.D.S.; Thompson Electric; Robert's Construction; Ron Marhofer Auto Group; Texas 10 Minute Oil & Lube; Western Reserve Printing; Common Wealth Properties; and The Mascot Shop.

For more information, visit www.oktoberfestcfo.com.

E-mail: pkeren@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3940