The West Alexandria Oktoberfest takes place in West Alexandria’s Peace Park and, although it’s not very German, its town festival options are great.
2023 DATE: October 14-15, 2023
Location: Peace Park
70 E Dayton St 45381
West Alexandria, OH
Website: https://www.facebook.com/WestAlexandriaCelebrationCommittee/
This post documents my experience on October 8, 2011 when it was called the Kiwanis Oktoberfest and put on by a different organization.
When I arrived in West Alexandria for the Kiwanis Oktoberfest, I realized it took place right next to a cemetery…
…an eerily foggy cemetery…
…that got eerier as I got closer to the festival.
But as I bravely continued, I went to where the fog seemed strongest…
…and happily realized it was only pork chops.
Taking place in Peace Park…
…the majority of the festival was contained among three passages lined with booths…
…where you could find used books in boxes…
…shirts and sunglasses…
…and a lot of crafts.
For the kids, there were some nice activities…
.…including wheel spinning, putt-putting….
…jumping…
…face-painting…
…and even Treasure hunting…
…although Dow Chemical’s sponsorship did make me a tad uneasy.
Food-wise, there was plenty to select from…
…whether it be apple butter…
…homemade treats…
…Italian, BBQ…
…or a funnel cake.
But other than the Lutheran representation…
…and the kraut…
…the food wasn’t very German.
In fact, the festival overall was a family-oriented (and dry) town festival more than anything else and that’s fine and dandy…but it wasn’t really an Oktoberfest…
…even if band’s music was appropriate.
Actually, I’d like to compliment the band…
…for dressing appropriately as well.