Contact: Lori Tyer-Ellis, Recreation Dept., 240-777-6826;
Bonnie Ayers, Public Information Office, 240-777-6530;
For Immediate Release: September 10, 2001

Germantown Oktoberfest
Features Food, Entertainment, Crafts
At Town Center; Parking Sites Announced

Germantown will abound with the sounds, food, drink and flavor of Germany during Oktoberfest 2001, to be held September 21 and 22 at the Town Center (behind the Safeway), Route 118 and Middlebrook Road.

The festivities will begin Friday evening with performances by The Fabulous Hubcaps at 6:30 and 8 p.m., children’s activities and fireworks at dusk. The hot air balloon glow will be held between performances at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday’s events will kick off at 7 a.m. with the traditional hot air balloon race at Kingsview and Clopper Road. Other activities, which will be held from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Center site, will include German food and a beer garden, crafts, pumpkin making and children’s activities.

Entertainment on Saturday will feature: the Alte Kameraden German Band, “Alt Washingtonia” SchuhplattlerVerein dancers, Das Meister Duet and Alpine Harpist Daniel Jones. Community-based entertainers will be BMI Karate, Chianti’s Dance Studios of Maryland, CPM Community Gospel Choir, Fit and Fun Gymnastics, folk musician Steve Gellman and the Seneca Valley High School ROTC. Performing in the BlackRock Center for the Arts Tent will be the Blue Sky Puppets, multicultural dancer and musician Nada Brahma, and Sue Trainor performing an interactive musical program for children.

Parking

Free parking, with shuttle bus service to the Town Center, will be available from the MARC Train Station off Bowman Mill Dr. (Friday from 5:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.) and the Department of Energy [DOE] on Route 118 at I-270 (Friday 6:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.). The DOE lot will not open until 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Parking will also be available in the Sugarloaf Shopping Center on Wisteria Dr. Patrons will walk through the center to Middlebrook Rd. and cross into the Town Center by the Exxon station. Crossing guards will assist walkers through the intersection.

Handicap parking will be available in the Town Center behind Panera.

For more information, call 240-777-6821.