Raise Your Steins: Saline Main Street's19th Annual Saline Oktoberfest is Here!
The Schedule
The Deutscher Kleider Contest is Now on Friday!
Dress up in your dirndls and leiderhosen and pop on down for a family friendly pageant and contest! Contest has been moved to Friday night so we can all be dressed up for the Tapping of the Golden Keg! Be at the event by 5:20 to participate! Prizes will be awarded to the best Female, Male and Family apparel.
Tapping of the Golden Keg is at 6:30 pm on Friday
One of the best kick-offs to any of our events - the tapping of the Golden Keg. Watch as local community members dressed in the German best escort the Golden Keg down Michigan Avenue an into the event area, ringing the famous bell and calling our town to come share a brew!
Make sure you've gotten your beer ticket so you can redeem it for glass of German beer - and don't forget to get a commemorative stein so you can Prost! in style!
Authentic German music will be provided by Immigrant Sons during and after the tapping ceremony.
Dance the Night Away with Phoenix Theory, Friday Night 8 - 11 pm
"The Phoenix Theory takes listeners to new heights of musical entertainment by performing tightly rehearsed renditions of your classic rock and dance favorites from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and today...it's the music you love to hear played the way you remember it."
This high energy band will get you moving and grooving to some of your favorite songs Friday night! Be there for the party!
Saturday at Oktoberfest: Kinderplatz, Wiener Dog Races, Hammerspiel, Live Music
If you didn't make it out Friday night, that's ok, Saturday is chock full of things to do in downtown for Oktoberfest!
Kinderplatz opens at 10 am and runs until 2 with Bounce Houses, Magic Shows, Balloon art and select Vendors! So much fun for the whole family! All on North Ann Arbor Street. Don't forget, food trucks are open starting at noon across the street, so come early, get a coffee, bounce in the bounce house, hang out in the bookstore, go to lunch at the Bier Garten and listen to live music all day starting at noon!
Saturday's Live Music Line-Up Starts at Noon!
Downriver Dan kicks off the day with some blistering blues music 12 - 2 pm. You saw him last year, and you saw him at Salty Summer Sounds, don't miss him on the big stage while enjoying your lunch and a brew under the tent!
Immigrant Sons brings authentic German sounds to the stage from 3 - 7.
50 Amp Fuse closes out our Oktoberfest Celebration, taking the stage at 8 pm!
Wiener Dog Races are BACK!
It took us a few years to get it organized, but we can't be more excited to have the Wiener dogs run the races again this year! With plans to start at 4 pm Saturday on North Ann Arbor Street (depending on tear down of Kinderplatz and race set-up timing), this family-friendly event will be super fun to watch!
Hammer Speil Registration starts at 5 pm on Saturday!
Everyone loves this fun game - is this your year to win??? Take a 5 lb hammer, turn it pointy side down, and see how many swings it will take you to flatten a nail into a log. That's it! If you can beat your neighbor, you can walk away with a gift card and supreme bragging rights!
Registration is $5.00 - must be present to register, play and win. All proceeds go back into Saline Main Street.
Food at the Oktoberfest
Whether you are looking for authentic German fare or want more of an American flare to your cuisine for the weekend, we have you covered!
The Lindenberg Friendship Society will be serving up saurkraut and fresh grilled brats, whilethe Kiwanis club will be offering hot dogs and burgers, Good Eats food truck will be there, along with Smokehouse 52, and Cottage Inn Pizza, the Lyons club will be offering ice cream...and more!
Why We Charge Admission
Saline Main Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to making downtown Saline it's most vibrant self. Oktoberfest is our biggest fundraiser every year. We are so grateful for everyone who supports our efforts! Fundraising, sponsorships, and grants make up 80% of our total income, and without it, we couldn't do what we do.
Although we work alongside the City for several projects, we are a separate organization made up of local business owners, property owners, and community members who are passionate about their community and believe that a healthy and vibrant downtown is key to a thriving City.
We are run mostly by volunteers, with one paid employee and are overseen by Michigan Main Street, which is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).
If you are interested in learning more, do not hesitate to reach out to us! Our director Mary, loves to have conversations over coffee at Carrigan's or lunch anywhere downtown!
