Loyalhanna Watershed Association plans 2-day Oktoberfest
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Area craft breweries and distilleries will join a mix of food offerings and live music Friday and Saturday for the Loyalhanna Watershed Association’s first Oktoberfest.
Based at the Watershed Farm, on the western outskirts of Ligonier, the event is taking the place of the organization’s Brewfest, introduced last summer but canceled this year because of evolving pandemic-related restrictions on public activities.
The Oktoberfest will be held outdoors, rain or shine, on the 9-acre field otherwise occupied by the Ligonier Country Market. Each day, gates will open at 3:30 p.m., bands will take the stage at 4 p.m. and activities will continue until dark, or about 7 p.m.
To help maintain social distancing, those attending are asked to bring their own chairs or blankets. Tickets cost $5 and must be purchased in advance through Eventbrite, at oktoberfestligonier.eventbrite.com.
“We haven’t done a lot of in-person things” during the pandemic, said association Executive Director Susan Huba. “This is a family-friendly event, with something for everybody.”
While the Brewfest focused on sampling of local spirits and brews, those attending Oktoberfest will be able to purchase a range of hot foods, desserts and appetizers as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
“All of our vendors are vendors at the Country Market on Saturdays,” Huba said. Among those offering food and drink will be The Cheesecake Connection, Darlington Inn, The Stand, Sand Hill Berries, The Pickled Chef, Grateful Smoke BBQ, Greendance Winery, Crooked Creek Distillery, Stateside Vodka, Sobel’s Obscure Brewery and Noble Stein Brewing.
Unlike Brewfest, Oktoberfest is spread over two days, in part because of sunset’s earlier arrival and the lack of lighting at the field.
Sky Pilot, which performs classic rock, will be the featured band on Friday, while the eclectic Unnecessary Polka will provide entertainment on Saturday.
The latter band “plays cover songs as well, but they have the polka vibe,” Hub said.
Unnecessary Polka founding member Michael Spak, of Scott Township in Allegheny County, said the six-member group plays a mix of familiar polkas, jazz standards, oldies and country tunes.
Spak’s accordion is augmented by fiddle and a variety of other instruments.
“It gives it a very unique sound, especially when we’re playing ethnic music,” he said. “We want to keep it fun and exciting and keep the party going.”
Oktoberfest is timed to coincide with the town’s annual Fort Ligonier Days. Because of the covid-19 pandemic, this year’s festival has been reimagined as a virtual event, although a number of venues in Ligonier are planning to welcome visitors within social distancing guidelines.
“There are a lot of things going on that weekend,” said Huba. “We hope that people also will patronize the restaurants in town.”