Oktoberfest kicks off Friday in New Ulm

Fest will stay

at Holiday Inn

through 2003

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Willkommen.

Ein prosit with sauerkraut, landjaegers, German potato salad and apple strudel.

The 21st annual Oktoberfest 2002, rated among the top 25 Annual Group Tour Festivals and Events in Minnesota, begins at 6 p.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn with New Ulm's Concord Singers at pool side.

Leintal Musikanten follows at 7 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. until midnight.

A keg opening starts at 8 p.m. The Concord Singers return to pool side at 9:30 p.m. Alpenrose plays from 8 p.m. to midnight in the German Rivers Room.

New Ulm Chamber of Commerce activities will be held downtown on Center Street, alongside the chamber building Saturday. Johnny Helget will play 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., followed by the Marv Nissel Band, 2-5 p.m.

A food stand with brats and sauerkraut and beer trailer with August Schell products will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. After a hiatus, the popcorn wagon returns. Horse-drawn trolley rides for $2 will be given.

"We'll continue doing what we've been doing downtown," said New Ulm Chamber of Commerce President Jeanne Albrecht. "It helps local business, making the stores busier. We'll have some extra entertainment in some of the bars downtown. People can stroll by, hear the music and stop in. Then visitors can go to the Holiday Inn from noon on."

Albrecht said the new second edition Hermann bobbleheads will be available for Oktoberfest visitors to purchase this weekend.

Oktoberfest will remain at the Holiday Inn through 2003. After that, it is expected to move to the Brown County Fairgrounds and be sponsored by Heritagefest.

Kathleen Backer, executive director of Heritagefest, said her group has decided to delay taking over Oktoberfest until 2004. Meanwhile, Heritagefest 2003 will be redesigned to utilize the new fairgrounds facility.

"We're looking at the new fairgrounds facility as a great opportunity for Heritagefest and Oktoberfest, but we want to make sure to maximize Heritagefest for 2003 first," Backer said. "We see so much opportunity with the new facility, but it would better serve us to wait another year before moving Oktoberfest there. Holiday Inn agreed to host Oktoberfest for another year. We're excited about both festivals and the new fairgrounds venue. It's an exciting time for us."

The festival, which also runs Oct. 10 and 11, will include public tours of the August Schell Brewery, John Lind House, Wanda Gag House, Harkin Store, Brown County Museum, Minnesota Music Hall of Fame and Morgan Creek Winery.

For more information, call the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce at 507-233-4300, 1-888-4NEWULM or e-mail: nuchamber@newulmtel.net