Lowell Octoberfest marks 50th anniversary
From left, Ty Worthington and Chandler Lang chat with Randy Bohl as he seasons chickens during the Lowell Octoberfest on Buell Island Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Jacey Seese, kitchen lead for the Lowell Octoberfest, stirs a pot of potatoes during the festival Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Ted Pottmeyer pours a beer for an attendee during the Lowell Octoberfest Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Kevin Schwendeman grills bratwurst during the Lowell Octoberfest Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Kaitlyn Schaad makes a balloon dog while Whipple residents Grady and Evie Goodwin watch Saturday during the Lowell Octoberfest. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Theo McGrath, visiting from Pittsburgh, takes time to color a rock at the kids craft station at the Lowell Octoberfest on Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Ty Worthington and Chandler Lang chat with Randy Bohl as he seasons chickens during the Lowell Octoberfest on Buell Island Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Jacey Seese, kitchen lead for the Lowell Octoberfest, stirs a pot of potatoes during the festival Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Ted Pottmeyer pours a beer for an attendee during the Lowell Octoberfest Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Kevin Schwendeman grills bratwurst during the Lowell Octoberfest Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
From left, Kaitlyn Schaad makes a balloon dog while Whipple residents Grady and Evie Goodwin watch Saturday during the Lowell Octoberfest. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
Theo McGrath, visiting from Pittsburgh, takes time to color a rock at the kids craft station at the Lowell Octoberfest on Saturday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)
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LOWELL -- Lowell Octoberfest marked its 50th anniversary over the weekend on Buell Island, bringing together vendors, volunteers and visitors for a celebration that helps pay for the park's upkeep.
About 70 vendors participated in the festival, which included a Saturday morning parade through the village, food and opportunities for local organizations to raise money.
Josh Harris, chairman of the Octoberfest committee, said proceeds from the event go back into maintaining and improving Buell Island. Recent work included a new roof at the park, he said.
"We want to just keep this park up and keep it going," Harris said. "It's good to just have this around for the kids and everything."
Harris said the festival also gives organizations such as school bands and FFA groups a chance to raise money by participating at a reduced cost. The arrangement allows those groups to keep more of what they earn during the weekend while taking part in the community event.
Harris estimated 50 to 60 volunteers help put on the festival. He said their work is essential to keeping the event going.
"We have some of the best volunteers in the world, honestly," he said.
Harris, who said he has been involved for 28 years, works alongside assistant director Brett Seese. He described Seese as an equal partner in organizing the festival, with the two consulting each other on decisions.
This year's anniversary celebration continued many of the festival's familiar offerings. Harris said there were about six food vendors and three drink vendors, along with the main food booth.
Among the vendors was Leslie Booth, whose handcrafted holiday decorations included items for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Booth said she enjoyed helping people prepare for the holidays.
For visitor Lindsey McGrath of Pittsburgh, the festival offered a chance to spend time in Lowell and get away from the city.
"We love the town. Everyone's so friendly," McGrath said.
Harris said he hoped visitors would enjoy themselves while supporting the work that keeps the island available for the community.
"I hope everybody has a great time," he said.
Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.