Oktoberfest Entertainment, Vedors, Music, Food and Fun to Transform Wakefield
Portion of Main Street to Close to Vehicles for Oct. 7 Festival
Organizers of this year’s Oktoberfest in downtown Wakefield have added so much new entertainment – the URI Big Jazz Band, a Fire Dancer, and two “Frozen” princesses to name a few – that they expect to double attendance at the Oct. 7 festival, set for noon to 11 p.m.
Positive response from the 1,500-2,000 attendees at last year’s “The Wakefield River Festival, an Oktoberfest Celebration,” despite the damp weather, prompted the association to go bigger this year. Volunteer Kenny Burke said the Wakefield Village Association found “the secret sauce” – the right blend of live music, artisans, street performers, German food and local craft beers – offered amid historic downtown’s shops and restaurants along the Saugatucket River, which will be set aglow for the last RiverFire of the season.
“It’s family-friendly,” Burke said. “From infants to octogenarians, everyone comes out. They love everything we have to offer.”
The Wakefield Village Association, made up of about 70 Main Street business owners, residents and others, has widened its circle of support this year, attracting major involvement from URI and the town of South Kingstown. URI, which boasts 5,000 alumni in South Kingstown, is making Oktoberfest part of its 125th anniversary celebration with performances by its 18-piece Big Jazz Band and Rhody Ram mascot. The town’s Parks and Recreation Department is holding a children’s fair at Wakefield Elementary School, with pumpkin painting, face painting and games.
Oktoberfest is expanding to encompass a larger portion of downtown while doubling the number of vendors from about 40 to nearly 100 this year, said Kenny Tetzner, Wakefield Village Association President and owner of Phil’s Main Street Grille. Five musical acts, including Take It To The Bridge, a funk/rock cover band, and Newport-based Los Duderinos will perform in the evening when huge RiverFire baskets will be lit. The communal beer garden will feature seasonal brews, wine and other beverages, along with German pretzels, bratwurst and apple strudel. Burgers, hot dogs, chicken, French fries and kettle corn will be offered too.
Entertainment includes the neo-vaudevillian TropiGals dancers, who are expected to perform at least one number with the URI Big Jazz Band, the impossible-to-classify Ladies of the Rolling Pin, who use rolling pins as instruments, the nationally known Big Nazo puppets, The Great Baldini, a magician, NiRoPe characters from Cardi’s Furniture, the New England Patriots’ Pat Patriot, hula hoopers and a fire dancer. “We’re trying to catch people a little off guard,” Tetzner said. “They’re going to be amazed.”
Many activities will be located near The Contemporary Theatre Company at 327 Main St. and the Saugatucket River bridge, which links downtown to Wakefield Elementary School. Vendors will set up along Main Street, and the stretch from Robinson Street to Kenyon Avenue will be closed to vehicles from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is available on Main Street and municipal lots, and the South County trolley has been added to take a 1.5-mile loop around Main Street, Columbia Avenue and High Street if festival-goers want to park at the high school or elsewhere.
The association, which may be best known for its Thursday night RiverFire events each summer, also held “Wakefield Endless Summer” on Aug. 17, a luau celebration with three bands, food, tropical drinks and an appearance by the princess Moana. She was such a hit that the association doubled down for Oktoberfest, bringing two princesses to work the crowd, sing and dance – Anna and Elsa from “Frozen,” who will emerge from a castle built on site.
In addition to the Wakefield Village Association, sponsors include Paul Masse Chevrolet, Sign-A-Rama, Contemporary Theater Company, Whalers Brewing Company, South County Hospital, URI and the town of South Kingstown’s Parks and Recreation Department.
Admission is free, but a suggested $5 per person donation will help support future events. Non-perishable food donations will also be collected to benefit the Jonnycake Center, which received about 900 pounds of food from the association’s efforts last year.
Next we have the Scituate Art Festival!!!!
- Location: Scituate Arts Festival
- 554 W Greenville Road
- North Scituate, RI 02857
- Dates: October 7, 2017 - October 9, 2017
- Recurrence: Recurring daily
- Time: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
The Scituate Art Festival, celebrating 51 years, is a favorite Rhode Island tradition over the Columbus Day weekend. Scituate is a picturesque New England town not far from Providence, nestled in the northwest corner of Rhode Island. The festival features 200 juried art and craft exhibitors, select antique vendors, a food court offering regional specialties, live musical entertainment and a huge art/craft/antique raffle. Visitors stroll the beautiful North Scituate village green, taking in the unique varieties of art, craft, sculpture and antiques offered by exhibitors while listening to upbeat music and pondering what to enjoy for lunch. Autumn provides the perfect backdrop for this wonderful festival, with crisp air and colorful foliage!
Lastly!!!
Home Depot in North Kingstown has their FREE kids craft Saturday morning and a fun free family Fall Fest immediately following the craft! We wish we could go! So fun! All the Home Depots across the country have the Sat morning craft hour this coming Sat! Have you reserved your kids spots!?!
Whatever you choose its going to be a great fall weekend for family fun, fresh air, and activities! Cheers!
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