OTTAWA – (July 10, 2014) Tickets will go on sale Thursday August 7 for the 6th Annual Vankleek Hill Oktoberfest, presented by local craft brewery Beau’s All Natural. The two-day festival and signature fundraising event will take place Friday October 3 and Saturday October 4, at the fairgrounds in Vankleek Hill, Ontario.
A baker’s dozen of different Beau’s beers will be served up cold and tasty this year, with many German styles represented, and a mix of brand-new recipes and returning favourites. For those craving a sneak preview, four of these beers will be sold starting in early September at the LCBO, in a special Beau’s Oktoberfest 4-pack. The 4-pack will also sell through home delivery in Ottawa via BYBO (www.bybo.ca), and the brewery retail store.
Joel Plaskett – Photo by Tim Brennan
Canadian music is, as always, a big part of VKH Oktoberfest. National indie rock icon and Juno Award winner Joel Plaskett with The Emergency headline Friday’s performers, which also include The Rural Alberta Advantage and Groenland. Saturday’s show is headed up by Newmarket, Ontario’s indie rockers Tokyo Police Club, and also features electro hip-hop performers Radio Radio. Canada’s polka king Walter Ostanek is back again this year for daytime entertainment, as are traditional German dance group The Schuhplatters. A bigger, better stage for this year’s Oktoberfest promises better sightlines and more room up front for fans.
The Cask Area is expanded this year, featuring a tremendous array of naturally carbonated beers from a wide variety of local and Ontario craft breweries. “School of Bock” also returns with tutored tastings and food-pairing sessions for the eternally beer-curious. Foodies will be presented with even more Bavarian and seasonally inspired creations to choose from this year: Beau’s has lined up 25 local restaurants for each day from across Ontario.
The festival’s fun activities and challenges return for 2014, including the stein-hold struggle, sausage-eating contest, and keg tossing for height and distance, as well as the popular spouse-carrying race. Spectators for these events will now have access to licensed, covered grandstand seating to enjoy these events in a bigger arena. The non-licensed kids’ area “Kinderfest” is back as well for the youngest festival-goers, as is the Games Midway, Skateboarding Demo area in conjunction with Antique Skate Shop, and homebrewing demonstrations. Beau’s brewery remains open for tours and tastings from 10-6 daily, with a shuttle bus running to and from the grounds.
The VKH Oktoberfest will raise money to support the Eastern Ontario Chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada, and local grassroots charity Ottawa Riverkeeper, as well as the Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society, Just Food, Hidden Harvest, Unshaven Mavens, and a number of smaller charities. Last year’s festival raised more than $75,000, for a five-year fundraising total of $242,000 for this event.
A total of 15,000 tickets will be released for sale beginning August 7. Last year’s attendance was 12,000. Adult admission is $22 taxes in, and includes an Oktoberfest hat, a pretzel and your first beer or other beverage. Two-day passes are $33 for $11 of savings, and kids passes (18 and under) are $5. As in previous years round-trip bus transportation will be available from Ottawa, Cornwall and Montreal, at a cost of $15. To gain free admission, Beau’s welcomes “Volun-beers” to help out during, before or after the festival. Those interested can apply at http://www.beaus.ca/volunteer.
More information about Beau’s Oktoberfest, including sign-up for activities (individuals and the Team Challenge), a full list of beers and bands, and details on how to get involved with fundraising will be posted in early August at www.beaus.ca. Beau’s gratefully acknowledges the support of Oktoberfest sponsors The Printing House, Theoret Martel Proudfoot Insurance Brokers Ltd., and Desjardins.
About Beau’s
BEAU’S All Natural Brewing is a family-run craft brewery founded in 2006. BEAU’S brews interesting, tasty beers using the highest-quality organic ingredients & local spring water. A member of the Ontario Craft Brewers, BEAU’S is a recipient of numerous international awards for brewing excellence, including 2 GOLD medals at Mondial de la Bière (Strasbourg, France, and Montreal, Quebec); 6 GOLD medals at the Canadian Brewing Awards, 7-times “Best Craft Brewery in Ontario” (2007-2013) and 5-times “Best Craft Beer in Ontario” (2007-2011) at the Golden Tap Awards; LCBO Brewmasters Cup Champion (2013); and “Best Beer” and “Best Brewery” at the National Capital Craft Beer Festival (2012-2013). BEAU’S received a Community Builder Award from the United Way (2013), and was CAFE’s 2010 Canadian Family Enterprise of the Year. BEAU’S flagship and seasonal beers are available throughout most of Ontario. BEAU’S entire line of beer is certified organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd, and BEAU’S is a Certified B-Corp.
