PORT GAMBLE — When it comes to eating a German seasonal sausage loaded with sauerkraut and throwing back a rich German beer, Rohn Rutledge remembers a time when North Kitsap reveled in the fall traditions of Oktoberfest.
“I’ve got really fond memories of the Thomas Kemper Oktoberfest,” he said, noting the “first of fall, end of summer” outdoor festival based in Poulsbo had something for both kids and adults.
“It’s a festival you don’t see around here often,” said Rutledge, co-organizer and owner of the Main Street Ale House in Kingston. The decade-old festival shut down when the brewery moved across the Puget Sound in 1997.
Co-organizer Ed Waterman said he would make a trip across the water just to be a part of the festival that took place at the old brewery off Foss Road.
“I remember dancing to the polka music, doing the keg toss, the horseshoe contest,” he reminisced.
But the two will be able to start creating more Oktoberfest memories again, as they have organized the first annual Port Gamble Oktoberfest to take place Sept. 26-28. Officials from Olympic Property Group, which owns the town, approached the two men 10 weeks ago about putting the event together.
OPG president Jon Rose said the idea of re-establishing the old tradition in the community has been very popular.
“I have a feeling a lot of folks miss it — I personally miss it,” he said. “It’s a really fun thing to do with families. We knew it was well-received and popular.”
Rutledge and Waterman, who have backgrounds in helping organize local events such as the Kingston 4th of July Music Festival and the Kitsap County Fair and Stampede, are making sure this festival has the same German flair as the old Thomas Kemper event.
“Authenticity is really important,” Rutledge emphasized. “It will definitely have a lot of German flavor.”
Uli from Uli’s Famous Sausages in Seattle will be the master of ceremonies for Saturday afternoon’s keg toss. Participants will get the chance to see how far they can toss an empty half-barrel keg from 3-5 p.m.
Uli will also be featuring his three-sausage sampler on oversized hot dog buns complete with traditional toppings, including sauerkraut and stone ground mustard, Rutledge said.
Other German delicacies offered will include apple strudel, meatloaf and imported and local German beers.
The beer garden will boast brews ranging from Spaten Oktoberfest, Leavenworth Oktoberfest and Pete’s Octoberfest to Snoqualmie Falls Harvest Moon and Widmer Hefeweizen.
Even so, the event wouldn’t be complete without entertainment and Waterman said he has that covered.
DJ’s will spin vinyl on Friday, but Saturday will feature the polka music of Johnny V from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Then local soul, funk and R&B band Cold Shot will entertain the crowd from 3-6 p.m. From 7-10 p.m. Joey James Dean and Fido from Bremerton will headline the mainstage with classic rock.
Sunday, Johnny V will hit the main stage again from 1-5 p.m.
Besides filling up on German food and dancing to German music, festival-goers will have a chance to browse the event’s farmer’s market filled with local vendors, Waterman said.
There will also be activities for the kids, he added.
Waterman said he is already concerned about the popularity of the event, as the buzz on the street has been particularly strong. But he’s not that worried and said he feels it will become very popular within the next few years.
“Our objective is to make this a long-standing fall tradition for the residents of the West Sound,” he said.
For more information about the event, call Rutledge at (206) 999-5510 or Waterman at (888) 738-4281.
GREYBOX:
Port Gamble Oktoberfest
2-10 p.m. Sept. 26
11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 27
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 28
$4 adults and $2.50 kids
Free parking
Entertainment lineup:
Friday:
2 to 10 p.m. _ DJs
Saturday:
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Johnny V — polka
3-6 p.m. — Cold Shot — soul, funk, R&B
7-10 p.m. — Joey James Dean and Fido — classic rock
Sunday:
1-5 p.m. — Johnny V
