Featured Image: Oktoberfest photo taken by Craig Roberts
Airport’s Support Helps Nonprofit ArtsQuest Expand Programming at Festival, Set for Oct. 5-7 and 12-14
BETHLEHEM, PA—When Oktoberfest at SteelStacks returns next month for its eighth fun-filled year, patrons will find more Oktober-festivities than ever before thanks in large part to the support of Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), the new presenting sponsor of the annual event.
One of ArtsQuest’s largest and most popular festivals outside of Musikfest, Oktoberfest set a record attendance of 29,500 in 2017, with the event’s crowds growing steadily since 2015. This year’s Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), set for Oct. 5-7 and 12-14, will feature several new attractions and family activities, as the festival adds bratwurst eating contests, a Weiner Dog Parade Oct. 6, fire dance cabaret Oct. 13 and more. Complete details on the festival will be announced in the coming weeks.
“Lehigh Valley International Airport has developed a strong partnership with ArtsQuest in recent years through support of popular events such as Christkindlmarkt and Musikfest. We both share a vision of promoting the Lehigh Valley as the community of choice for people and an exciting place to call ‘home.’ This year, the Airport is extremely proud to expand our outreach efforts by sponsoring Oktoberfest, a fun-filled festival packed with entertainment that is free for the community,” says Thomas R. Stoudt, Executive Director, Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority.
Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) is a free festival that features authentic German food and beer, live music, schuhplattlers and kids’ activities, as well as attractions like the Beer-Lympics competition, popular dachshund races, Oktoberfest 5k and more. Festival hours are Fridays, 5-10 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-10 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-8 p.m.
“Over the past three years, we’ve really focused on making Oktoberfest accessible to as many people as possible, expanding our programming for all ages by incorporating dog agility demonstrations, doubling the number of dachshund races and adding in new programming like the Hasselhoff-off, stein hoisting championships and the Oktoberfest Biergartens,” says ArtsQuest Chief Operating Officer Curt Mosel. “Thanks to the support of Lehigh Valley International Airport, we are not only able to keep this festival free for attendees, we’ll be expanding our programming, helping to draw even more guests in and around the Valley. We thank Lehigh Valley International Airport for its investment in our arts and cultural programming, which ultimately benefits our entire region.”
For more information on Oktoberfest presented by Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), visit www.steelstacks.org/oktoberfest.
Information and image provided to TVL by:
Mark Demko, ArtsQuest
http://www.artsquest.org/
