Raise your steins and don your dirndls for Oktoberfest. The Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks, in partnership with the city of Sedona Parks and Recreation Department, will be hosting its ninth annual Red Rocks Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 14, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the lower ball field at Posse Grounds Park.
“It’s a family event that’s always fun,” club treasurer Donna Hawk said. “A lot of people that attend wear traditional German [attire such as] dirndl, lederhosen. We have a section that we call our VIP tents, where the sponsors of the tents decorate their tents and people get to vote on their favorite. Then the winner is awarded a trophy at the end of the evening. We have beer stein-holding contests for both the ladies and the men and the winner of those gets a medal for their strength and endurance.”
Advance ticket prices are $25 and same-day tickets are $35. Admission includes a festival cup and two drink tokens. More tokens can be purchased for $3 each, and each token is good for an eight-ounce beer or a glass of wine at the event. Last call for token sales will be 7:30 p.m. Commemorative glass beer steins are available for purchase at $10 each. Children under the age of 21 can attend free of charge, but they must be accompanied by a ticketed adult.
“Arizona breweries will be pouring their fall craft beers,” the event’s press release promised. “This year’s lineup includes THAT Brewery, Oak Creek Brewing Company, Historic Brewing and Jesse Lee’s Craft Beer Marketplace. For those that prefer to enjoy their Oktoberfest experience with a glass of wine, Alcantara Vineyards is providing both a red and a white vintage to choose from.”
The music lineup will feature returning favorites Polka Katzen playing traditional “oom-pah sounds from the Black Forest Region of Flagstaff,” along with first-time performers the Johnny Malo Band, whose self-professed goal is to get people moving their bodies through high-energy dance music.
“It’s pretty eclectic but it’s mostly classic rock,” band member Johnny Badiaco said. “A lot of covers but we do some original [material] and the blues. People should have a good time when they come out, some of the songs have a Santanta vibe to it.”
A typical setlist for Johnny Malo could include covers of the Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Commodores, or modern hits like “Need a Favor” by Jelly Roll. “We used to play in Mexico over at Wrecked on the Reef,” Badiaco said. “It’s a popular night spot in Rocky Point. We used to call our band J-Bad, [but] they started calling us ‘malo’ because that’s bad in Spanish … So that’s how we [got the name] because we want it to be a little bit different.”
Food truck options at this year’s event will be Sassy Fig, Mustache Pretzels, Jersey Girl Cheesecake and Sweets, Guac-n-Roll and the Dellapiane Argentine Grill with plant based food.
A free shuttle service will be operating starting at 3 p.m. and will run every 15 minutes, with the final pickup at Oktoberfest set for 8 p.m. Shuttle pickup locations will be:
- Sedona Public Library, 3250 White Bear Road
- Wells Fargo Bank, 2201 W. State Route 89A
- Plaza West Mall, 2155 W. State Route 89A
- First State Financial Center, 1785 W. State Route 89A
- Soldier’s Pass Plaza, 95 Soldier’s Pass Road
The Rotary Club of Sedona Red Rocks’ goal is to raise $20,000 for the club’s philanthropic efforts, which focus on the youth of the Verde Valley, such as its recent donation of $1,300 to the Sedona Police Cadet program for belts and holsters. Its youth projects also include vocational scholarships for graduating high school seniors, providing school supplies for teachers and Teacher of the Year awards.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit redrocksoktoberfest.com or contact Donna Hawk at (928) 282-6820.
