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There will be a little something for everyone at this year’s Oktoberfest — even the family dog.
The ninth annual Oktoberfest will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 11 and from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 12 in Berwyn’s historic Depot District along Windsor and Stanley avenues between Home and Oak Park avenues. In addition to the event’s usual festivities, this year’s festival will also include Dog-toberfest, an entertainment area for dogs and dog-owners.
Dog-toberfest is being organized by Chicagoan Chad Lopez, creator of “The Urban Mutt”, a Web-based TV series featuring Lopez and his mutt Guinness exploring all Chicago has to offer pets and their owners. This is the first festival organized by “The Urban Mutt” crew, which also includes Lopez’s girlfriend, Cynthia Gaspar, and assistant, Shane Snyder, but Lopez said the activities are falling into place.
“You’ll have more fun if you bring your dog,” Lopez said. “And it won’t cost a lot. That’s the main thing, a lot of the things that can be done free or at a very low cost.”
Slotted for Windsor and Oak Park avenues, Dog-toberfest will feature a “Doggie Lounge” for canines to play under sprinklers, receive a bath, and then snack on Pupizzas and Doggie Brew.
The area will also feature vendors, a pet psychic and a caricature artist. Free giveaway bags will be handed out to first 75 people to visit “The Urban Mutt” booth.
The lounge will also include a donation booth to benefit the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League.
Oktoberfest has steadily grown during the past nine years and organizers are expecting to attract more than 10,000 people from the Chicago area this year, according to Marybeth Eurek, special events coordinator for the Berwyn Development Corp.
“It’s grown tremendously,” Eurek said. “This is the third year we’re doing it two days, and with the two days it’s really grown.”
The festival will also run along both sides of the train tracks this year now that construction along Stanley Avenue is completed. Organizers are also bringing back arts and crafts vendors this year and tripled the size of the children’s area, which will feature family activities and inflatables.
All the old favorites — music, food vendors, raffles and beer — will be available. Eurek said many of the Depot District businesses will remain open for the event.
“It’s always a good thing for them, too,” she said.
For more information about the fest, visit BerwynOktoberfest.com. More information about activities for the family pet can be found at Dog-toberfest.com.
There will be a little something for everyone at this year’s Oktoberfest — even the family dog.
The ninth annual Oktoberfest will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 11 and from noon to 11 p.m. Sept. 12 in Berwyn’s historic Depot District along Windsor and Stanley avenues between Home and Oak Park avenues. In addition to the event’s usual festivities, this year’s festival will also include Dog-toberfest, an entertainment area for dogs and dog-owners.
Dog-toberfest is being organized by Chicagoan Chad Lopez, creator of “The Urban Mutt”, a Web-based TV series featuring Lopez and his mutt Guinness exploring all Chicago has to offer pets and their owners. This is the first festival organized by “The Urban Mutt” crew, which also includes Lopez’s girlfriend, Cynthia Gaspar, and assistant, Shane Snyder, but Lopez said the activities are falling into place.
“You’ll have more fun if you bring your dog,” Lopez said. “And it won’t cost a lot. That’s the main thing, a lot of the things that can be done free or at a very low cost.”
Slotted for Windsor and Oak Park avenues, Dog-toberfest will feature a “Doggie Lounge” for canines to play under sprinklers, receive a bath, and then snack on Pupizzas and Doggie Brew.
The area will also feature vendors, a pet psychic and a caricature artist. Free giveaway bags will be handed out to first 75 people to visit “The Urban Mutt” booth.
The lounge will also include a donation booth to benefit the Chicago Ridge Animal Welfare League.
Oktoberfest has steadily grown during the past nine years and organizers are expecting to attract more than 10,000 people from the Chicago area this year, according to Marybeth Eurek, special events coordinator for the Berwyn Development Corp.
“It’s grown tremendously,” Eurek said. “This is the third year we’re doing it two days, and with the two days it’s really grown.”
The festival will also run along both sides of the train tracks this year now that construction along Stanley Avenue is completed. Organizers are also bringing back arts and crafts vendors this year and tripled the size of the children’s area, which will feature family activities and inflatables.
All the old favorites — music, food vendors, raffles and beer — will be available. Eurek said many of the Depot District businesses will remain open for the event.
“It’s always a good thing for them, too,” she said.
For more information about the fest, visit BerwynOktoberfest.com. More information about activities for the family pet can be found at Dog-toberfest.com.
