Oktoberfest for playground

Posted on: Staff Writer

 Laureen F. Guenther 

Times Contributor 
 
Langdon’s children have been without a playground in their town’s main park since its play equipment was declared unsafe and torn down in the summer of 2012. Chrissy Craig and her team members in the Langdon Community Association (LCA) have been fundraising for new play equipment ever since. They’ve raised $40,000 – and need to raise $60,000 more.
They hope to raise another $3,000 at the Langdon Oktoberfest, Saturday, October 5. “The LCA held an Oktoberfest two years ago and (it) was very successful,” says Craig, “so (we) decided to hold it again and hope for the same success.”
The adults-only event starts at the Field House at 2 p.m. with music, drinks and a social gathering. Craig says, “We will have some competitions, such as best dressed (Oktoberfest) costume, best (German) mustache, and best yodeling.” They’ll also host a live auction on custom-made beer steins, as well as a 50 / 50 draw.
A German dinner buffet will begin at 7 p.m., featuring homemade schnitzel and sauerkraut, along with bratwurst, cooked red cabbage, German potato salad, and other specialties. Bavarian pretzels will also be for sale.
At 9 p.m., the band High Steppin’ Daddy will open the dance. High Steppin’ Daddy, who performed at the first Langdon Oktoberfest in 2011, “is a local band and always a favorite,” Craig says. They’ll play “a mixture of your favorites, whatever the crowd wants.”
Oktoberfest advance tickets are available for $20.00, at the Langdon Liquor House, weekdays after 6 pm. Tickets at the door are $30.00. All funds raised go to the Langdon Park Playground.
“It should be a great time,” Craig says. Besides knowing they’re raising money for their children’s playground, Oktoberfest guests will have “lots of fun without having to head out of town.”
In the meantime, Langdon Community Association will continue their efforts to rebuild their playground. “We have applied for some grants and fingers crossed. But if not, we will just continue to fundraise.” Craig says. “We will get it built somehow.”