Opcoming international Oktoberfest will feature plenty of brews, brats and bands in heart of downtown Providence

Posted

Enjoy the official sendoff to summer and salute to the arrival of autumn German style at the 24th Annual International Oktoberfest at the Alex & Ani City Center in Providence’s Kennedy Plaza on Saturday, September 24 from noon to 4 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. and Sunday, September 25 from noon to 5 p.m. The final festival of the season for the Providence Event Series presented by Rob Levine & Associates, enjoy the tastes sights and sounds of Bavaria right in the heart of downtown. On tap will be Biergartens serving more than 50 brews along with full bars for those who prefer cocktails and other libations, as well as hearty German offerings from a variety of food trucks and live bands playing traditional Bavarian music and other international influences like reggae, Latin and surf rock grooves.

“We have a lot of exciting new things happening on our 24th year of the International Oktoberfest,” said Michele Maker Palmieri, president and CEO of Waterfront Productions, the parent company of Rhode Island Waterfront Events, who manages the event. “We are kicking off the Oktoberfest season earlier with the new September dates to align with the traditional festivities in Munich. We added a second session to Saturday, so the festival will run later and we have a new venue right in the heart of downtown Providence that is very accessible and adds a dynamic energy to the weekend celebration. We also have some new traditional Oktoberfest bands along with party bands.”

Palmieri added that there is a full WaterFire lighting Saturday night for those who want to enjoy both events at the same time.

Domestic, craft and international brewers will serve up a variety of beers, including Lookout Cider, Stony Creek Black Water Pilsner, Sam Adams Oktoberfest, Sam Adams Jack-O-Traveler, Newport Storm Hurricane Amber, Newport Storm Blueberry, Newport Storm RI Pumpkin, Newport Storm IPA, Harpoon IPA, Harpoon Cider, Harpoon UFO Pumpkin, Harpoon Flannel Friday, Narragansett Heffewiezen, Narragansett Lager, Cony Island Mermaid Pilsner, Coney Island Freaktoberfest Big Ol’ Pumpkin Ale, Leinenkugel Oktoberfest Double BOCK, Leinenkugel Harvest Patch, Magic Hat #9, Magic Hat Circus Boy, Warsteiner, Warsteiner Dunkle, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, Czechvar Pilsner, Otter Creek Overgrown APA, Konig Ludwig Hefeweizen, Brooklyn Lager, Two Roads Ol’ Factory Pilsner, Trinity Brewhouse Kolsh, Trinity Brewhouse Captain America, Trinity Brewhouse Oktoberfest, Trinity Brewhouse’s locally made “Spiced Rum Hot Toddy,” Foolproof Peanut Butter, Spaten Lager, Paulaner Oktobefest, Victory Fest Bier, ACE Pumpkin Cider, Yuengling Oktober, Long Trail Harvest, Blue Moon Harvest and Shipyard Pumpkin.

The featured bands throughout the weekend include The Jolly Kopperschmidts German Band, a six-piece Bavarian orchestra from Leominster, Massachusetts featuring trombone and/or flutes, trumpets, accordion, drums and tuba. Described by The Boston Globe as “The most versatile and entertaining German Band in the Northeast," the group has an extensive songbook of over 200 traditional Bavarian songs, including marches, waltzes and polkas, as well as historic German folk songs and traditional American tunes. Between songs The Jolly Kopperschmidts German Band also educates and familiarizes its audiences with the history of Oktoberfest. The Oberlandler Hofbrau Band has a comprehensive repertoire of tunes that includes the old standards along with the latest offerings from Germany. The band, which includes a full complement of 12 musicians, has been entertaining audiences for more than fifty years. To help transport you away from Germany for a while, Natural Elements will bring reggae vibes to Oktoberfest by infusing all the elements of true beat music, including hip-hop, jazz and funk, while Newport’s own The Z-Boys will provide a combination of surf rock, blazing fast country, Latin and metal influences.

The festival gates open at noon on Saturday and then the celebration officially kicks off at 1 p.m. with a collective “Prost.” The Stein Hoisting Competition will also return by popular demand with the “hoister” who can raise a full liter stein longer than other beer lovers enjoying both prizes and bragging rights.

Tickets to the International Oktoberfest are general admission and re-entry is allowed. For each of Saturday’s two sessions from noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m., advance tickets are $20 and $25 the day of the event. On Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. advance tickets are $17 and $20 the day of the event. A 2-Day Weekender Pass is also available featuring entry on both days for just $30 (advance) and $40 the day of the event. Kids under 12 years of age are $12 with a paying adult on Saturday and free on Sunday. Tickets can be purchased online at www.riwaterfrontevents.com, by calling Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or by visiting one of the ticket locations in Newport, Warwick and South County: RI Waterfront Events box office located at 4 Commercial Wharf in Newport; the Grid Iron Ale House and Grille, 1599 Post Road in Warwick; and Looney Tunes, 562 Kingstown Road in Wakefield (cash only at Looney Tunes and cash & credit accepted at other locations). Box office hours vary so visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com for the latest updates. Tickets will also be available on the day-of the event at the Alex & Ani City Center box office located at the entrance of the venue at 2 Kennedy Plaza, Downtown Providence.

The formation of the Providence Event Series presented by Rob Levine & Associates, the Heavy Hitter, was announced this past summer by Waterfront Productions/Rhode Island Waterfront Events, the City of Providence, the Providence Parks and Recreation Department and the Alex & Ani City Center. The last Providence Event Series concert for the season is Ziggy Marley, Friday, September 23 at 5:30 p.m., $32.50 advance/$42.50 day of event.

RIPTA is the official transportation of the Providence Event Series at the Alex & Ani City Center and will be offering a Rock & Ride Program for concert and festival attendees. Riders simply ask the bus or trolley driver for a RIPTA rider receipt as proof the ride was to a Providence Event Series event and then present if at the venue’s Box Office to receive a Free prize compliments of RIPTA.

The other sponsors and partners of the International Oktoberfest are RIPTA/Commuter Resource RI, Heineken, Horizon Beverage, Pepsi, The City of Providence and The City of Providence Department of Art, Culture Tourism and GoLocal24.

For more information on the Providence Event Series presented by Rob Levine & Associates, the Heavy Hitter, visit www.riwaterfrontevents.com, contact Michele Maker Palmieri, president and CEO of Waterfront Productions, LLC via email at mmaker@newportwaterfrontevents.com or call (888) 900-8640, ext. 709. To receive future Rhode Island Waterfront Events and Newport Waterfront Events announcements, presale opportunities or exclusive packages, sign up at riwaterfrontevents.com and become a fan on Facebook at facebook.com/RIWaterfrontEvents, Instagram and Twitter/RIWEvent.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here