Get Ready for Fall: Oktoberfest is Coming Saturday

Fall is in the air – so it’s the perfect time for Lemont Township’s Oktoberfest, planned for noon to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lemont Township Community Center at 16300 Alba Street.

This is the second year for the family-friendly event, where fest-goers can purchase tasty food and refreshing drinks from Three Corners Grill & Tap, and buy a pumpkin to take home from Puckerville Farms.

And, new this year – residents can get into the spirit of Oktoberfest by entering their own home-baked treats in the fall homemade dessert competition.

Amateur cooks and bakers can drop off their best pumpkin bars, apple cobblers or other fall desserts by 3 p.m. – and for a $2 donation, fest-goers will earn a chance to taste and vote for their favorite confections.

Oktoberfest will also feature a 50/50 raffle, for which a drawing will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the raffle are available now at the Lemont Township Office at 1115 Warner Ave (behind Chipains).

From noon to 5 p.m., local groups and organizations will host a variety of games for kids for 50 cents each. And, from 1 to 4 p.m., guests can carve pumpkins into funny, pretty or spooky jack-o-lanterns. The pumpkin-carving table will be sponsored by Puckerville Farms and manned by the Juniorettes.

Adding to the festivities, the following talented young musicians will perform throughout the afternoon:

• The Fine Print (noon-1:15 p.m.)
• Andrea Veltri  (1:25-2:25 p.m.)
• Sara VanHecke (2:30-3:15 p.m.)
• Aubree Tally (3:15-3:45 p.m.)
• Conor Matthews (4-5:30 p.m.)
• Fort Awesome Band (5:45-8 p.m.)

Oktoberfest donations and proceeds will benefit the Lemont Township Family Assistance Fund to help provide much-needed emergency assistance for households in Lemont Township.

“The Lemont Township Family Assistance Fund has really been hit hard the past few months,” said event organizer Terri O’Neill-Borders. “Higher than normal electric bills (due to the extremely hot summer) were causing many shut-offs and crisis situations in homes with kids and seniors – as well as several emergency situations that caused rental assistance to be necessary.”

At approximately 5:45 p.m., a ceremony will take place to thank and recognize those who sponsored five memorial benches at the Lemont Township Community Center.

For more information on Oktoberfest call O’Neill-Borders at Lemont Township  at 630-257-2522, ext. 13 or email terri-oneill@lemonttownship.org.