9-05-2016 10:13pm

Oktoberfest 2016 Kicks Off September 23rd in Downtown Saline

The 12th Annual Saline Oktoberfest will be held on Friday, September 23rd and Saturday, September 24th. Hosted by Saline Main Street, this community event includes live entertainment for all ages, family activities, Kinderplatz children’s area with bouncers and kid’s crafts, and German and American Food.

The Oktoberfest Bier Garten will open the festivities on Friday, from 5pm to 11pm with German and local food, and a Beer/Wine tent. Again, this year the ‘Tapping of the Golden Keg’ ceremony will begin at 6: 30 pm to officially kick off the event with our 2016 Festmaster, Dick Nehring.

Exclusive, ceramic Oktoberfest bier steins are available this year! Visit one of the Downtown Saline Businesses to purchase one for $20.00. If not sold out before the event, they will also be available at the event.

Back again this year headlining Friday night’s entertainment is the band, Your Generation! Your Generation in Concert™, is a live multimedia spectacular celebrating six decades of American and British pop/rock hits. The group is an international favorite for the celebrity set, corporations, festivals, casinos and private events. Led by a nine-piece band, their music transports the audience on a musical journey through the soundtrack of their lives. Bring your dancing shoes and come join them as they rock Saline! There is a $5 cover charge for those 21 and over on Friday night only. Twenty and under are free.

The popular German game, Saline's Hammerspiel will be held on Saturday at 6pm! This game is a tournament of skill (or luck). Challenge your friends by signing up to play near the information tent on Saturday. Prizes will be awarded to first and second-place winners. The contest is free to enter.

The Corn Hole Challenge is also by back by popular demand! There are three categories: Kid’s Challenge at noon–(limited to 8 two-person teams), Family Challenge at 1pm–(limited to 8 two-person teams, both participants must be 14 or older and must be family members), and Adult Challenge at 2pm–(limited to 13 two-person teams, participants must be 17 or older). Get your two-person teams together and sign up for the challenge. It will take place on Saturday starting at 12 Noon. Sign up is coming soon and will be found at www.salineoktoberfest.com or Email Riley Hollenbaugh at director@salinemainstreet.org to sign up your teams. There will be prizes for the top team in each category!

The hilarious Wiener Dog Races are back again this year. The races will take place on Saturday at 3 pm. Rules and online Registration can be completed at www.salineoktoberfest.com until 4 pm on Friday, September 23rd. Pre-registration is $10 and strongly encouraged. On-site registration is $15 and may be completed the day of the event starting at 1:30 pm on S. Ann Arbor Street. Prizes will be awarded for the first-third place finalists as well as a Costume Contest Winner.

Delicious food will be available both Friday (5-11pm) and Saturday (10am-11pm)! The Saline Lindenberg Friendship Committee will again serve up traditional German food in the Bier Garten. Your choices also include tasty selections from:

Smoke BBQ
Kiwanis – Hot dogs, pulled pork, popcorn, pop
Saline Lindenberg Friendship Committee – Bratwurst
Benitos Pizza
Lion’s Club – Ice Cream
Billy’s Bayou Soda Cart
Nutty Bavarian Nuts

Friday also features Saline High School’s South & West Consortium Culinary Arts Department annual bake sale on S. Ann Arbor Street starting at 5 pm on Friday night.

Live entertainment continues on the Main Stage on Saturday, September 24th from 12 noon until 11 pm including the New Horizons German Band, Detroit Special (Rockabilly), Linda Lee and Band (Authentic German music from Frankenmuth), and The Phoenix Theory Band from 8 pm to 11 pm!

Kinderplatz! will be held on Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm on S. Ann Arbor Street and engages kids with free activities including a variety of bouncers and crafts. Other activities include:

Make-n-Take It Crafts (EVEN MORE THIS YEAR!)
Nelson’s Wildlife Safari live exotic animal and reptile show
Scarecrow Making Demonstration with Dr. Rob Borer

The Saline Farmer’s Market will be open from 8 am to 12 pm for local produce and baked goods. Due to the event location, you can find them in the parking lot off Henry Street, (behind Mac’s).

For the latest event details, please go to www.salineoktoberfest.com or visit facebook.com/SalineMainStreet.

Saline Main Street’s mission is to enhance the vitality of downtown as the social, cultural, economic, and historic heart of our community. If you would like more information about Saline Main Street please contact Riley Hollenbaugh, Executive Director, at (734) 717-7406 or email at director@salinemainstreet.org