Oktoberfest: Party in the Park

Once the firkin was tapped by Round Guys Brewery's Scott Rudich, Lansdale's fourth Oktoberfest at White's Road Park was ready for a party to usher in autumn in the borough.

"So far, it's going very well," said Lansdale Mayor Andy Szekely, who created and organized the event with Lansdale Area Fundraising Society. "We have tremendous support."

Support came in the form of things like apples for the apple bobbing contest from Tabora Farms, clothes for the scarecrow making from The Attic, mums to decorate the tables under the Bavarian-colored beer tent from West Point Nursery and pumpkins for pumpking coloring from Merrymead Farm.

By 11:30 a.m., people were lining up to get their fill of Warsteiner beer or the Vienna-Oktoberfest amber lager from Round Guys Brewery.

"It's always been like this. It's not even noon and we have a decent crowd," Szekely said. "People are busy in the morning, but then around 12:30 p.m., 1 p.m. is when it ramps up."

Szekely was inspired to start an Oktoberfest in Lansdale from the same fests he experienced during his years living in Hungary.

"Oktoberfests in small towns — that's what we have here in White's Road Park," he said. "My first year as mayor, they fought it a bit because it would be the first time alcohol would be on borough property."

Now, the borough has an event that draws people from various counties.

"It's good, All-American fun with a German emphasis and an international flair," Szekely said.

Rudich and Rich DiLiberto's business only opened this year, and they have already been asked to be an important part of a Lansdale event.

Rudich said he was texted by Councilman Steve Malagari and asked to be the featured beer of the parade firkin.

"We planned on doing Oktoberfest," he said, "but we've never done a beer in a firkin."

DiLiberto expected a great turnout for the event.

"It's beer — it's what we live for," he said.

Set-up and take down, as well as supervision in the scarecrow making for children, was overseen by students from North Penn's Junior ROTC.

"We did 2,500 community hours all over the place last year," said North Penn Jr. ROTC Col. Todd Zachary. "Last year, we did 120 events. This year, it's about the same."

Zachary said helping out is all part of the curriculum.

"We give back," he said. "It's constant community service."

Check out our video of Saturday's event, as well as our photo gallery. Be sure to add your own photos and videos too