Oktoberfest in Goshen

October First Fridays celebrates fall harvest with German holiday

GOSHEN, IND - Downtown Goshen will celebrate fall with an Oktoberfest featuring lots of food, brew, and live entertainment. Also, many of the Downtown merchants have decorated for the fall harvest season and their décor will be judged for the “best of show”.

Outdoor Oktoberfest activities will take place on Washington Street between 5th and Main. On the street, the local Republican and Democrat parties will sell food items. Age 21-and-over visitors can head to the “biergarten” (beer garden) at Boscos, 123 South 5th Street (5th and Washington streets) for a pint of fresh brew.  See the gofridays.com site for a complete list of restaurants and food specials downtown.

A full evening of musical entertainment begins on the
Washington Street Stage at 5:30 p.m.

The band line-up includes:

• 5:30 p.m. The Jake Miller Band
  
  
• 6:45 p.m. The Pomegranates
  (sponsored by DGI and GC student activities)
  
  
• 7:45 p.m. Shapiro
  (sponsored by DGI and GC student activities)
  
  
• 9 - 11 p.m. Double Barrel Daryl
  (sponsored by the Goshen Parks Department)

Other events:

• Better World Books will host a book signing from 5 - 6:30 p.m. Environmental expert and author Luke Gascho will talk about his new book, Creation Care: Keepers of the Earth. Published by Goshen-based financial services provider MMA, it encourages us to rethink how we take care of our world. Gascho is an educator, presenter, and leads the Goshen College environmental learning center.
  
  Later that evening, jazz musicians, the G&R Guitar Duo will perform inside the store.
  
  
• Downtown@808 is hosting a benefit event for 1-year-old Jackson Schrock on Friday, Oct. 3, 5-9 p.m., at the Old Goshen Theater. This fun family event will feature a coffee and dessert bar, live music and silent auction on items like a shopping trip for four to Chicago, hand-crafted furniture, or a year of piano lessons. For more information, visit jacksonschrockbenefit.com.
  
  
• Goshen Public Library, 7-9 p.m., “After Dark at the Library: A Halloween Alternative,” features local Paper Mache sculptor, Val Nepsha, presenting "Prince Caspian." This program is free and open to all ages.
  
  
• Eyedart studio gallery will have an opening reception for “Artists who were at one time Goshen College soccer players,” a group show celebrating 50 years of soccer at Goshen College. The Goshen College Maple Leaf Athletic Club is sponsoring the exhibit. More information at eyedart.com.
  
  
• A bicycle “fashion” parade starts at 6:30 p.m. at Chain Reaction Bicycle Project, 113 West Jefferson St. The parade, is a family friendly event and will travel about 1 mile around downtown, led by a police escort. Riders are encouraged to dress up and decorate their bikes in fall, harvest or Oktoberfest themes but any /all decorations welcome. No registration required, however, donations to CRBP are welcome. In case of rain, check the Chain Reaction Web site for updates.

A complete list of store specials and a downloadable map is available at gofridays.com.  First Fridays is a family friendly event and runs from 5 – 9 p.m.

 

September 22, 2008
Gina Leichty, First Fridays Director
Downtown Goshen, Inc.
574.534.8844
gina@gofridays.com

Web sites:

First Fridays
gofridays.com

Downtown Goshen, Inc.
cityonthego.org