Put on your lederhosen. The Mandan Progress Organization is holding a new event: Oktober Fest un Mandan. Scheduled for Saturday, September 28, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., the event will transform downtown Mandan’s Dykshoorn Park into an autumn play land.

The festival celebrates the region’s German heritage with a variety of food booths, family activities and contests, live music and a brau haus or beer tent. Other features include a fall craft tent and farmers market. Admission is $5 with ages 12 and under welcomed free of charge.

Six food vendors will offer German favorites like fleishkuechle, knoephla soup, kuchen, kase knoephla, and brats, plus there will be other American favorites and a root beer booth.

Oktober Fest activities include pumpkin chucking and a pumpkin decorating contest. Kids will enjoy a straw bale maze, face painting, visits with N.D. Park and Recreation mascot “Roscoe the Raccoon” and a photo booth. Free pumpkins for the decorating contest will be available to first 100 participants up to age 12 from Sept. 23 to 27 or until the supply runs out at the MPO office, 411 W Main Street. Contestants should bring their decorated pumpkins to Dkyshoorn Park on Sept. 28 between the hours of 8 and 10:30 a.m. for judging and a chance at prizes.

Oktober Fest also offers a variety of live music including Hungry Five at 11:30 a.m., Johnny Vincent at 2:30 p.m., The Gefroh Brothers at 4 p.m. and Rift from 7 to 11 p.m.

The Hop Brau Haus offering a cash bar and snacks will be open from noon to 11 p.m. A beer tasting hosted by McQuade Distributing and Jerome Distributing takes place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Twenty craft beers will be available including the official beer of the 2013 Oktoberfest un Mandan, which is Buffalo Commons Brewing Company Wind Blown Wheat, made in Mandan by Ted Hoffman. A “tapping of the keg” ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. and happy hour contests will challenge participants to beer stein holding, a beer stein relay and more. Beer tasting tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate. Obtain tickets at the MPO office or by calling 751-2983.

For details about Oktober Fest, visit www.mandanprogress.org or call the office at 751-2983.

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