Prost! Sleepy Hollow Celebrates Oktoberfest Saturday

Sleepy Hollow’s second annual Oktoberfest is coming this weekend and it promises to be bigger, better, and have more beer.

(Prost means cheers in German, if you were wondering.)

Last year marked the village’s first go at an Oktoberfest celebration at Kingsland Point Park and while most deemed it a success, some complained of long lines for food and beer that were depleted sooner than organizers anticipated. This year, the attendees should be well-supplied with a range of vendors and entertainment.

The family-friendly day really starts much earlier at 11 a.m. with an Adventure Race Experience for kids and accompanying adults. “It’s shaping up to be a really cool event,” Trustee Susan MacFarlane said. 

The race was suggested by resident Becky Zifchock, who participates in a similar race on Staten Island every year. She and resident James West have “taken the laboring oar in getting it organized,” MacFarlane said, with high school volunteers helping to run the event that day.  

They’ve tried to time it so when that event ends, Oktoberfest will be kicking off and race participants can get some refreshments.

Want to walk to Oktoberfest? Summer’s popular Park to Park, when the GM property gates along the riverfront are open, is happening again this Saturday. Folks can walk or bike from Horan’s Landing at the end of Beekman to Kingsland Point Park and back.

Those super-cool and sturdy Sleepy Hollow headless horseman steins will again be on sale to drink your beer.

Highlights:

• J.P. Doyle’s will have authentic beer on tap.
• Heidi's bakery will be selling fresh pretzels and other German delicacies.  
• The German School of New York will be selling Bavarian cakes and coffee.  
• A new catering company opened by Renee Chillemi, Red Poodle Catering, will be selling German butcher-sourced brats and other hot food.  
• Bella's Boutique will sell various Sleepy Hollow souvenirs and other fun items.  
• And our band, John Stevens' Doubleshot, will be playing polka and other German tunes all afternoon.  

The event is rain or shine as guests can always move into the bathhouse pavilion.  

Last but not least, MacFarlane notes, “there is a bit of a movement underfoot to come to Oktoberfest dressed in German outfits.” Oktoberfest Committee member Johannes Eltz is spearheading that campaign. “Though not everyone has liederhosen in their closets like Johannes, maybe they can get creative with what they do have.” Take that as a challenge.

Oktoberfest goes from 1 to 5 p.m. at Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow on Saturday, Sept. 28, rain or shine.