Hill Wheatley Plaza will transform into a German Biergarten when Oktoberfest returns this weekend.
Festivities will take place from 6-10 p.m. Friday and continue from 4-10 p.m. Saturday. Ernie Hinz, president and executive director of the FACES Foundation, said organizers are optimistic about the event's debut.
"The number of vendors has increased since we announced bringing back the event, and we've only had one vendor cancel," he said. "They were going to be cooking and serving the brats for us, but the Knights of Columbus have stepped in and will be grilling the brats for us. Proceeds from their sales will go to their organization, so that's one way we're kind of helping each other, but we're happy to have them step in where we needed them."
Oktoberfest in Hot Springs began in 1974 when The Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, recognizing the town's German population, started the event to celebrate and commemorate those traditions. It was an annual event for 35 years, and a favorite among residents and visitors alike.
Due to declining popularity, the event was last hosted in 2009, but is coming back to benefit the FACES Foundation with the same spirit, fare and fun as it was known for decades.
"We've been getting phone calls nonstop from people wanting to volunteer and buy tickets," Hinz said. "We've even had a number of out-of-town visitors who have bought tickets. People from Texas and other states that may have been planning a trip here already and saw the event, and thought they would check it out."
In years past, Oktoberfest was held over four days, but Hinz said it was important to keep this year small just to test the waters.
"We didn't want to have it an all-day, one-day event because, a lot of people we were looking at bringing in would only make the trip if it were at least two days," he said. "But this way, it starts Friday night and then again Saturday night and we're not competing with any other events like JazzFest or Gallery Walk. If anything, it's added some variety to the weekend."
Hinz, who is also president of Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club, said it is similar to the Rotarians' year-round focus on downtown revitalization.
"There are several objectives of bringing this event back and several things we hope to see this weekend," he said. "Our main objective and purpose for doing this is to raise funds to provide much-needed surgeries for children who need reconstructive surgeries.
"But we also hope to reintroduce the community and the state to this event. Our anticipation is that people will walk away from this event with a positive experience and plans to come back next year. Like us, the vendors are all taking a risk on this event, but we're all there with the same objective of bringing this back to the community."
Hinz said that having the event on a holiday weekend was not the first choice, but he thinks it will be to the benefit of the community.
"Whenever my wife and I, and our friends, are walking downtown and there's music and things happening, it really all comes alive," he said. "We think, 'Man, we've got to go check that out,' and I think that variable generates excitement and makes downtown a little more vibrant.
"By having JazzFest finishing up in the evenings right around the time we're getting started, people can walk our way and check things out, and for those visitors who made a trip this weekend that maybe didn't realize all these wonderful events were taking place, they will think, 'This is what Hot Springs is like,' and will plan a trip to come back."
The admission price is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Food and drink will also be available for purchase.
Local on 09/03/2015