GALION – Galion is busy preparing for its annual Oktoberfest celebration set to begin Thursday. Streets in the downtown area will be closed off for the three day festival that runs Sept. 25-27 and offers four stages of live music all day, rides by D&R Show, an art show and huge variety of foods, gifts and activities.
Kent Gimbel, the 15-year veteran organizer of the event, said the popular nine-piece band DIRECT ENERGY is back this year (Friday night). “That’s the high power rock band that has the trumpets, saxophones and piano.
“We have new talent this year – the up and coming country star Jessica Hannan (Saturday night) who is finishing up her first recording in Nashville,” said Gimbel.
The festival has also changed vendors who supply carnival rides, so thrill aficionados will enjoy the excitement of new rides.
“I think we have the best food vendors in the state,” said Gimbel. Old favorites are back, including the awarding winning Smoking Joe’s Ribs and Big Pappy’s Ribs. Buffalo burgers will offer their unique tastes again this year as well as the most popular Louisiana Grill’s Bourbon Chicken.
Galion mayor Tom O’Leary makes it a habit to walk the festival grounds daily and said, “It is our largest travel and tourism event of the year.”
Joe Kleinknecht of the Galion-Crestline Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to the Oktoberfest each year. “We [the chamber of commerce] are the information center. We hand out maps of the festival and help people find the stages. We’ve served in this capacity for several years.
“I’ve always thought it was a great event. I appreciate that Kent does it every year. It gives us some exposure that we might not get otherwise … introduces us [Galion] to a larger audience,” Kleinknecht.
This year Oktoberfest offers four stages of music, the Main Stage, Stage Two, the ELKS Bier Garten and the Christian Gospel Stage. The stages are spaced apart so that music from one stage does not interfere with the enjoyment of another stage.
Art will also be included in the festival. Children can create chalk drawings in a specially designated area – Art in the Alley – sponsored by the Crawford County Arts Council. The Brush and Pallet Art Club is hosting an art show and sale during the festival as well.
Festival sponsors this year include Donley Ford of Galion, Galion Building & Loan Bank, the Galion Inquirer and Mix 106 WVNO. For more information on the event call 419-468-8771.
Thursday night music:
The John Kennedy Orchestra
Semer Bros
Dave & Ethel Smith and Joyce Isenberg
John Slabach
Jamie Smith
Lynda Wenzel
Marlene Vance
Friday night music:
DIRECT ENERGY
Viper
Get-A-Way
Local Groove
Chris Bell
Amy Featheringham
Transformation
Frank Boyd Jr. Blues Ministry
Mike and Gina
In His Name
Saturday music beginning at noon:
Presidential Brass
Standard Time
Dick Mackey Sextet
Erik Gimbel Orchestra
Jessica Hannan Band
Perfectly Damaged
Mule Kick
Fearless Heart
Al Touby Band
3:16
Laura Hoffman
Project 1:16
Kim Lovely
Watergrave
Waymark
In His Name
Created Music Project
