Ike'sOverFest in Galveston

[Robin Binder]

Friday & Saturday, October 24-25, 2008
Galveston Island's premier fall event - the 27th annual Island Oktoberfest - will go on as scheduled, although scaled back for some of the festival's activities. To be known this year as IKE's OverFEST, historic downtown Galveston will again be the site of one of the island's most popular annual festivals. Set for Friday and Saturday, October 24-25, IKE's overFEST, hosted by First Evangelical Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by Del Papa Distributing Company, will again feature The Band Haywire on Friday evening and the world-renowned Alpenfest Band on Saturday. The Band Haywire is one of Austin's favorite Country/Western and contemporary groups and festival-goers are sure to enjoy a variety of popular sounds to dance to throughout the evening. Along with good music, there will be great food and drink including smoked sausage, bratwurst, and knockwurst, and home made pretzels. Beverages will include a variety of German-style beer and wines, and soft drinks. On Saturday, festival goers can again look forward to superb entertainment provided by the internationally-acclaimed Alpenfest Band. In addition to enjoying great German music throughout the day, there will be more smoked sausages, bratwurst, knockwurst, as well as homemade strudel to satisfy that sweet tooth.

For this year only however, there will be no vendor booths, raffle, or auction, and children's activities will be very limited.

"Our congregation and Oktoberfest committee felt it was imperative to move forward and host this annual event - albeit scaled down a bit - as a way of giving back to our friends and neighbors throughout the Galveston and Gulf Coast area who have suffered so much due to Ike." We are so grateful for the overwhelming financial and in kind support of our partners, vendors, and sponsors to ensure that we are able t o move forward and make this event happen," stated Ron Hanson, Oktoberfest chairman.

The 27th annual Island Oktoberfest - aka "IKE's overFEST - will be held on the grounds of and streets adjacent to First Lutheran Church, 25th and Winnie. Festival hours will be 5-11pm on Friday; 11am-7pm on Saturday. Festival goers are encouraged to dress in German costumes. "Free will" contributions will be gratefully accepted to help with the renovations and repairs of the Parish Hall and other church buildings severely damaged by Hurricane Ike. The festival will conclude with a special communion service on Saturday evening at 5.30pm. Everyone is welcome.

For more information, visit the web site firstlutherangalveston.com or call 409.762.8477.