×

Rhine Haus Oktoberfest returns to Youngstown

Christian Rinehart wanted to get both more authentic and younger with the second Rhine Haus Bier Hall’s Oktoberfest in downtown Youngstown.

“I wanted to add a little more of that authentic German-ness,” said Rhinehart, owner of Rhine Haus Bier Hall and founder of the Justice League Restaurant Group. “We have a dance group from Cleveland that is top notch — the STV Bavarian Dancers — which helped start the Oktoberfest in Cleveland.

STV will perform at 2:45 p.m. Saturday and will join a lineup that includes traditional Oktoberfest bands like Fred Ziwich & ISM on Friday, Kosmix polka band and Bob Kravos & the Boys in the Band on Saturday and the Saxon Band and the Alpen Schuhplattler Dancers on Sunday. Joining Kravos on stage Saturday as a special guest will be three-time polka Grammy winner Walter Ostanek.

Other activities include beer stein races, pretzel and bratwurst tosses and a stein holding competition, and pierogi, bratwurst, schnitzel, kraut balls and pretzels will be among the German fare available.

“The kraut balls sell phenomenally,” Rinehart said. “We’ll go through 100 cases of bratwurst, which is like 4,000 bratwurst.

The evening lineup will be devoted to more contemporary music with the ’90s cover band Old Skool on Friday, the Prince tribute act The Prince Project on Saturday and The Houseband on Sunday.

“Eventually we’re going to add two outdoor stages so the rock ‘n’ roll, fun, younger crowd can mix with the older polka crowd,” Rinehart said.

The first Oktoberfest averaged about 1,000 people each day, and Rinehart hopes to double that this year.

A portion of the proceeds from the event will benefit the child, adult and family programs of the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley, and Sunday’s activities will include a Breast Cancer Awareness Night with efforts to “Light the Town Pink” by having downtown Youngstown businesses illuminated with pink light.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today