Oktoberfest feted Saturday with beer, food

Yes, beer pretty much has its own holiday.

Oktoberfest.

The celebration of this beloved beverage began in Munich more than two centuries ago. But today frothy steins are being merrily swung all over the planet in October — including right here in Yuma.

“I think the world just likes beer!” said Carolyn Bennett, executive director for Yuma Fine Arts. The local nonprofit organization hosts its annual Oktoberfest celebration Saturday.

The event will feature 10 kinds of beer from Belgium, England, Canada and Germany. American beers will hail from Flagstaff, San Diego, Boston and a brewery in Oregon.

“We will be serving bratwurst, sauerkraut, beans, German potato salad and a special apple crisp dessert prepared by our own Yuma Foodie columnist, Karla Billdt from Karla's Kreations,” Bennett said. “I'm going to keep an eye on that apple crisp, hoping there will be some left over to take home. It's so good!”

The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Yuma Art Center, 254 S. Main St.

“We will have German music playing in the background, but we find that people sit at the long tables in the central gallery and have a lot of fun talking, meeting old friends and making new ones,” Bennett said. “It can get very noisy! That tells us people are having a good time.”

About 200 people attended last year's Oktoberfest, an important annual fundraiser for Yuma Fine Arts.

“It's a way for the community to enjoy the beer-tasting, the food, the music and each other, while supporting the arts,” Bennett said. “Our Oktoberfest is not a typical Bavarian Oktoberfest, because it's just for one evening and it's beer-tasting. But it is fun and a way to have a good time and support the arts in Yuma. After a long, hot summer, we look forward to Oktoberfest to kick off the season!”

Admission is $30 for the whole event or $12 for just the food. Tables for 10 people can be purchased for $100. Tickets are available online at YumaFineArts.org and at the art center's gift shop. For more information, call 329-6607.

Features editor Darin Fenger can be reached at dfenger@yumasun.com or 539-6860.