Saline Harvest of the Arts/Oktoberfest Starts Tonight

Saline’s Harvest of the Arts/ Oktoberfest Festival will fill the streets with German flair during the 8th annual event, held to celebrate Saline’s relationship with sister city Lindenberg, Germany.

Festivities will take place on Friday, Sept. 28 from 5 until 11 p.m. and Saturday Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m., on North and South Ann Arbor Street in Downtown Saline.

According to www.salineoktoberfest.org, the event will be two days of fine juried art, music food and other activities.

Oktoberfest will feature events like the Hammerschlagen Tournament, a German game dating back to the early 1800s. Starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, the game features a hammer and a nail, and continues until one player drives the head of their nail into the surface of the wood.

Friday will also include a Bier Garten featuring German and domestic beverages as well as food like brats, sauerkraut and potato salad. Several local eateries will also be on site both days to offer visitors a bite to eat.

Other restaurants include:

• Mangiamo’s – Pizza
• Brecon Grille – Corned Beef Brisket & Sauerkraut
• Downtown Diner – Burritos
• Kiwanis – Hot dogs, pulled pork, popcorn, pop
• Bayou Billy – Soda and Bavarian Nuts
• Lindenberg – Bratwurs

Don’t miss live music on Friday night by Frankenmuda Fratz’n and George Bedard with Drivin’ Sideways.

Saturday is also packed full of fun for kids and adults including a Farmers Market, art booths, entertainment, games and a Chili Challenge.

Kinderplatz, held on Saturday, will feature several activities geared towards children from a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable bounce house, obstacle course, crafts and more.

On Saturday grab a bowl of Chili made during the Fireman’s Chili Challenge from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The event pairs Saline Firefighters and Culinary Arts students from Saline's South and West Consortium Program.

“This is the fourth year we have participated in this event,” said Saline Fire Chief Craig Hoeft. “Firefighters and culinary arts students work together and create good food for a good cause.”

Funds raised by chili sale will be donated to a scholarship fund for a student pursuing a career in culinary arts. According to Hoeft, last year the event made it possible to donate a $1,000  scholarship to a culinary arts student.

During the Chili Challenge, ten varieties of chili will be for sale and will include a chunk of bread for dipping.

Hands on Art, sponsored by Two-Twelve Arts Center will feature an event in which adults are offered an opportunity to create paper beads and make a necklace. Gaines Collins from Two Twelve said the center will operate four booths as well as have volunteers to run the bead making booth called “Imagination Station”.

Much, much more awaits visitors at Saline’s Oktoberfest/ Harvest of the Arts Festival.

Saline honors its Sister City in several ways, from Oktoberfest to a Friendship Rock at the Saline Library.

The concept of Sister Cities began in 1956 after President Dwight Eisenhower created an initiative called People-to-people. According www.salinesistercity.org, the 1956 Sister Cities International Organization initiative asked that American cities partner with other communities around the world to promote the exchange of ideas and “goodwill”. Created to transcend politics, the organization now includes over 2,500 American and foreign communities.

Schedule (posted at www.salinemainstreet.org)

Friday, September 28:

5 p.m. – 11 p.m.     Bier Garten and Live Music by the Frankenmuda Fratz’n and George Bedard with Drivin’ Sideways

8 p.m. Hammerschlagen Tournament – Enter at the Bier Garten Tent

Saturday, September 29:
Music All Day including the Saline Fiddlers, New Horizon German Band, Dueling Pianos and more!
8 a.m.-1 p.m.              Farmer’s Market (behind Mac’s)
10 a.m.-7 p.m.             Oktoberfest Bier Garten Food and Music
10 a.m.-5 p.m.             Juried Art Fair and Local Entertainment on N. Ann Arbor Street
10 a.m.-5 p.m.         Saline High School Culinary Arts Student Bake Sale
10 a.m.-5 p.m.             212 Arts Center Inspiration Station-adult make-n-take art
10 a.m.-3 p.m.             Kinderplatz! pony rides, inflatables, crafts and characters;
11 a.m.-1 p.m.             Firemen’s Chili Challenge pairs a Saline Firefighter + Culinary Arts Students
12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.  New Horizon German Band
1:30 p.m.-2 p.m.   Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?
2 p.m.-3 p.m.     Saline Fiddlers
3 p.m.-3:30 p.m.   Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
3:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.   Dueling Pianos
4 p.m.-7 p.m.               Electric Vehicle Display