Oktoberfest comes to Strathmore

Posted on: jamacsadmin

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter
 
One of the best things about October is Oktoberfest, something Holy Cross Collegiate, HCC, will be hosting for the first time on Oct. 21 at the Civic Centre. Oktoberfest has been a part of Bavarian culture since the early 1800’s and is a tradition that has carried on, and been emulated, throughout the years. While the event hosted by HCC won’t follow the beer chugging two-day festival’s style, it is sure to be a great community event and a lot of fun.  
“It’s just something different, it is something new. We wanted something more at the beginning of the year,” said Andrea Culshaw, one of the organizers with the Parents Social Club. 
She said it is a great way for the parents to get to know each other, and is open to the entire community. It is also a fundraiser for the school and after feeling the last one didn’t do as well as it could have, the club decided to try something new. 
“It’s always been like a ‘funny money’ casino, and we thought let’s change it up. It wasn’t doing well, as well as we would like it, so we thought we would try something a little different. Bring it into a different time of year, make it more of a ‘get-to-know-your-community’,” said Culshaw. 
“Our funding goes directly back into the school, and it goes directly to the core subjects. We fund anything that is not funded by the government.”
It’s going to be an evening of dinner and dancing. During dinner the entertainment is sure to put the guests into an Oktoberfest kind of mood. 
“During the dinner…one of our students, she plays accordion and she’s part of an ensemble, so her and her mom and their group are coming to play an accordion ensemble. It’s kind of neat, so we’re kind of excited about that,” said Culshaw. 
The group is called the Jarosh Accordion Ensemble and isn’t the only entertainment for the night – a few fathers have volunteered to DJ for the dance portion of the night. 
It’s an adult only event but some students will be helping out with cooking the food. 
Tickets are on sale for $40 each. Anyone wishing to just attend the dance it will be $15 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased at Holy Cross Collegiate, Bangles Hair Studio and Spa, or email Andrea at aculshaw@redeemer.ab.ca.