This upcoming weekend will be filled with activities for the whole family as various fall festivals are taking place in the area.
Jackson will host its second Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The harvest celebration will feature a beer garden serving craft and Bavarian beers, and German-style food like pretzels, German burgers and various sweets. The event will also celebrate Jackson’s bicentennial.
Darren Burgfeld, committee member for Jackson’s Oktoberfest, said the festival will occupy uptown Jackson, going from High Street to the Courthouse Square. He added that this year the festival’s beer garden will be much bigger than last year.
“The biggest increase for us is the addition of a second beer station and the all encompassing beer garden,” Burgfeld said.
This year people will be able to go from one craft beer vendor to the next more freely and will be allowed to carry their drink in the street areas hosting the festival.
The festivities will include an apple pie contest, a costumed pet parade and other kids activities, and musical performances. The Crusin’ Uptown Car Show will start at 10 a.m. and last until 1 p.m.
The Fire Truck Rally will also take place during the festivities. Details and a map of the event are available on the Oktoberfest Facebook page.
Sikeston is also having a fall festival., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Legion Square.
Lynn Lancaster, executive director of Historic Downtown Sikeston, said the event is in conjunction with the 6th Annual Cotton Ramble Bike Ride, a multi-course bike ride for bicycle enthusiasts.
“After this is over we start the Cotton Festival which is southern music, southern food, crafts and all kinds of goodies to buy,” Lancaster said.
Five bands will perform and among the food available will be ham and beans, barbecue, fish, homemade ice cream and fried Oreos and fried Twinkies.
The festival will offer activities for the whole family such as an antique tractor show, a cake walk, a Halloween dog costume contest and a scarecrow contest. Kids will have the opportunity to pick fresh cotton. To complete the festivities, the Downtown Farmers Market will be open from 7 a.m. until sellout.
In addition to these two events, Old Appleton will host its third annual fall festival on Saturday, October 11th. The public will have the chance to enjoy foods, arts and crafts from various vendors and to listen to live music.
In Frohna, Mo., a different kind of festival will take visitors back in time. The Saxon Lutheran Memorial Fall Fest is on Saturday and will allow people to get a taste of life in the 1840s. Festival volunteers will welcome visitors in period clothing and many pioneer skill demonstrations will take people down the history road.