Weekend promises oompah and more

Oldsmar's Oktoberfest will have its own sports bar with TVs tuned to the World Series and football. Bonus: Hurl kegs between innings.

OLDSMAR - If you want to put on your lederhosen, have some sauerkraut and join in a Bavarian sing-along this weekend, you don't have to go to the old country.

There's always Oldsmar's eighth annual Top of the Bay Oktoberfest at R.E. Olds Park.

The festival celebrating traditional German culture runs 5 to 11 p.m. today, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 7 p.m. Sunday. This year, you can enjoy your stein and oompah music without interfering with your NCAA, NFL or World Series games.

That's because a sports bar with a big-screen TV tuned to the Bucs, Gators, Seminoles or Marlins is under the big top.

"The World Series is this weekend," said Kevin Gartland, president and chief executive officer of the Oldsmar/Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the festival. "But people don't have to worry about missing it if they come."

Oktoberfest is a time for tomfoolery. Saturday evening expect to see keg hurling contests, where folks launch empty beer kegs as far as they can into an open field.

Sunday afternoon will feature a relay race in which teams of three waitresses will carry beer steins that weigh 8 pounds when filled.

There will also be individual stein-holding competitions and two-man log-sawing competitions.

The contests are open to all.

"Contests happen every hour on the hour," Gartland said. "When the band takes a break we get audience members up to do all kinds of weird and bizarre competitions that people just love to watch."

The festival will feature three kinds of German beer. On the menu will be oven-roasted Hofbrauhaus chicken cooked with German herbs and spices, bratwurst, knackwurst, and smoked brats, prepared by Oldsmar Chamber and Amici's Catered Cuisine of Oldsmar.

Two German bands, a polka band and two folk dancing troupes will perform. Carnival rides and an arts and crafts exhibit will also be set up.

The festival is expected to draw 15,000. Admission costs $2 for adults, $1 for seniors and teenagers, and is free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. The proceeds will go to the chamber and to the PTAs at Oldsmar Elementary School and Forest Lakes Elementary.

Parking is free. An extra lot will be open at Oldsmar Elementary School on St. Petersburg Drive and Chestnut Street, which is about two blocks from the park. A free bus will shuttle people from the lot to the festival every 10 minutes.

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