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Oktoberfest at Sugar Mountain Resort Coming Up, Music, Dancing and Fun for Everyone, 0ct. 13-14

Oktoberfest is a time for celebrating fall with food and beverages, bands, dancing, activities and crafts. Photo by Ken Ketchie.

By Hailey Blevins

Coming up this Saturday and Sunday, Sugar Mountain Resort invites you to don your lederhosen or your dirndl and grab your beer stein and join them for the 2018 Oktoberfest, where you can take in the beautiful fall foliage, cool mountain temperatures and a weekend full of activities. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 13-14, join everyone at Sugar Mountain for a day of fun, music and food.

This festival celebrates both fall and with a variety of activities for all ages. Sit back and listen to live Bavarian music by the Harbour Towne Fest band and Valle Crucis Middle School band. They encourage everyone to join in on the festivities by dancing along.

The Harbour Towne Fest band plays all types of music, from traditional Bavarian tunes to the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning. They are a favorite because of the energy they bring to the festival.

“They dance along with the crowd. The band leader gets out with his microphone and encourages and solicits people to come dance, either with their spouses or with him. Then he leads people through the crowds. He creates a fun, festive atmosphere that gets people up and part of the activity.”

Even audience members who are too timid to get up and dance and performance love to watch other people get up and dance, “They get into it just by clapping, lifting their beer steins and encouraging those who are performing,” said Jochl.

The Harbour Towne Fest band is a crowd favorite, brining energy to the festival with their music and encouraging the crowd to dance. Photo by Ken Ketchie.

When you’re not busy dancing, you can enjoy some of the great food and beverages. Kim Jochl, Director of Marketing and Merchandising, noted that “Right now or in the middle of next week, food service starts putting the sauerkraut on. It has to be cooked for a long time. In the middle of the week, that’ll start resonating through the ski lodge. I think the beer is already here. There’s bratwursts, knockwursts, potato salad, and kegs of Paulaner beer.”

More food choices are available outside in the craft area. Traditional American foods are available if someone in the family doesn’t want a bratwurst or a knockwurst. There’s kettle corn, funnel cakes and curly fries, “All kinds of fun food,” as Jochl said.

Other activities include a children’s fun center, hayrides, local and regional craft fair, rides on the Summit Express chairlift, a Bavarian costume contest. There will also be a winter sports shop sale, lodging specials and more.

The children’s center includes lots of family friendly, fall inspired games. It has been extended an hour this year to provide more time for fun! “We have pumpkin bowling, water balloon tossing, inflatables, corn hole, and hay rides.”

Throughout the day, everyone should take a ride on the Summit Express chairlift. Sugar Mountain slows the chairlifts down during this time of year to allow extra time to enjoy the view. “It’s beautiful. We still have a lot of leaves out on the mountain that are turning really pretty, so the lift ride is a nice, fun distraction.”

Many people come dressed in their costumes and participate in dancing while the bands play. Photo by Ken Ketchie.

The costume contest is free to participate in, just register at the admin tent Saturday between noon and 3:45 p.m. Winners are determined by crowd response and are awarded an Apple Strudel and a beverage voucher.

Sugar Mountain’s newly remodeled and expanded bike part will be open during Oktoberfest. “Magic Cycles will be there if people want to rent a bike and equipment. We’ll have our bike patrol out and the bike trails are still being well kept.”

Pets to attend Sugar Mountain’s Oktoberfest as well. However, pets are not allowed on the deck or inside the lodge and must be on a leash. With free admission, free parking, transport and not having to find a pet sitter, there’s no excuse not to attend. As Jochl said, “There’s no reason not to come to Sugar Mountain’s Oktoberfest. No matter how old you, there’s no excuse not to come. It’s fun.”

Entrance into Oktoberfest is free. Parking and the shuttle service are free as well. In addition to the free shuttles, golf carts are available to transfer people with trouble walking from the shuttles to the festival. Oktoberfest is scheduled to continue through rain or shine.

For more information, call 828-898-4521.

Schedule:

Saturday, October 13: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

10 a.m. Oktoberfest opens

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Summit Express Chairlift Rides

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crafts on the Lawn

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sports Shop open in lower level of base lodge

11 a.m. Oktoberfest Opening Ceremony

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Children’s Fun Center open in play yard

12-4 p.m. Harbour Town Fest Band

2 p.m. Valle Crucis Middle School Band

4 p.m. Bavarian Costume Contest at dance floor

Sunday, October 14: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

10 a.m. Oktoberfest opens

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Summit Express Chairlift Rides

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Crafts on the Lawn

10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sports Shop open in lower level of base lodge

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Children’s Fun Center open in play yard

12-4 p.m. Harbour Town Fest Band

Pictures from Oktoberfest 2017, Taken by Ken Ketchie