PERU, IN- Producers Sandy Chittum, Vicki Draper, Steve Foht and Lisa Stanfield announce the second annual Peru Oktoberfest this Saturday, October 5 from 11 am to 3 pm on Court House Square. The brainchild of Ms. Stanfield to help promote downtown shopping and dining, Ms. Chittum, Ms. Draper and Mr. Foht quickly jumped on the bandwagon.
The event includes an extremely popular Weiner Dog Race, created by North Miami High School’s FFA under the supervision of Jim Wildermuth. The dachshunds race in two-dog heats, beginning at 1 pm. First, second and third places receive Miami County Chamber of Commerce gift certificates in the amounts of $100, $75 and $50, respectively.
Steve Foht, who owns and is executive chef for Legend’s Cocktail Lounge and restaurant, grew up in Briedel, Germany on the Mosel River. His father was an airplane mechanic stationed on Hahn AFB, but he didn’t want his family in base housing, so he moved them to Briedel. Steve attended grade school there and taught himself to cook German food. He and his team will be serving Black Forest wild boar meatballs over spaetzle in white wine and mushroom sauce as the Oktoberfest gourmet special in the big white tent. He will also serve bratwurst, Schnitzel, tenderloins, porker sandwiches, and slaw. German and domestic beer will be served in souvenir mugs, and German wine will be available as well.
Mr. Foht is also sponsoring a Lederhosen Contest. Anyone who attends in German costume will be eligible for the two first prizes of dinner for two at Legend’s.
Sandra Tossou, owner and pastry chef of Dreams to Reality Cakes, will be preparing Zimsterne (German Cinnamon Star Cookies) from a recipe of Connie’s Little German Bread Shop. This cookie was so successful last year that it sold out before lunch was over, so Mrs. Tossou is making twice as many in hopes to serve everyone who would like to taste this German traditional Christmas cookie.
Lisa Stanfield, owner of Elle Belle Boutique and Lillian’s Prom, has put together a Fall Crawl of boutiques and shops, which will all include special sales and other goodies. The shops are Anita’s Boutique, Down on the Farm, Elle Belle Boutique, McClure’s Market and 7 South. Programs are available with their addresses at the Oktoberfest.
Vendors, coordinated by Miami County Chamber of Commerce President Sandy Chittum, incorporate the Farmers’ Market participants and others. Products include artwork, beaded items, bread, coffee, cakes, clay jewelry, cookies, crystal jewelry, dip mixes, German chocolate brownies and cakes, gnomes, handcrafted jewelry, handmade greeting cards, hats, holiday décor, homemade blankets, homemade candy, honey, houseplants, human/pet anime portraits, kettle corn, lemon shakeups, natural skin care and essential oils, pies, pretzel sticks with beer cheese, rolls, 3-D prints, tumblers, scones, wooden chacuterie boards, wood home décor, and wreaths. A list of vendors’ names can be found in the program at Oktoberfest.
New activities include free wagon rides by Fort Wayne’s Sentimental Journey from 12 pm to 2 pm. This horse-drawn wagon has graced Legend’s Mother’s Day brunch, Downtown Christmas Open House, and Second Saturdays. Sponsored by Peru professionals and businesses, it’s their first time at Oktoberfest.
Well-loved but new to Oktoberfest is Ballet Arts of Peru’s German Folkdances. They packed in the audience at Peru’s Christkindlmarkt a few years back and are recreating their dances for Oktoberfest at 2 pm.
Next year’s Oktoberfest will occur a week earlier in October on Saturday the 11th, from 11 am to 7 pm, and will feature Indy Polkamotion. They were favorites at Christkindlmarkt and perform at Indianapolis’ German Fest.
For questions, contact Ms. Draper at (260) 568-0828. Very few vendor spaces are still available but individuals must be vending something besides the above items.
