Mayor Jud Ashman Previews City’s Oktoberfest (VIDEO)

The 24th annual celebration of Oktoberfest at the Kentlands takes place Sunday, Oct. 11 from noon to 5 p.m. The festival includes six stages of live music and entertainment, wine tastings from Maryland wineries, horse-drawn wagon rides, apple cider pressing, traditional Oktoberfest crafts for children, nonprofit vendors offering activities and giveaways, an extended business expo, strolling entertainers, mini golf, inflatables, and plenty of restaurants and retail establishments to explore.

In this MyMCMedia Extra video, Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman touts the family fun festival:

The festival covers Kentlands Village Green, the grounds of Kentlands Mansion, Main Street and Market Square. Admission and parking are free. Free wheelchair accessible shuttle service will run regularly during festival hours to and from satellite parking at 200 Orchard Ridge Drive, just off of Quince Orchard Road.

Explore the festival and navigate your day with the Oktoberfest at the Kentlands App. You’ll find it within the Arts & Events Mobile App, available free from iTunes and Google Play (search Gaithersburg Arts & Events).

On the Market Square Stage at noon and again at 2:40 p.m., the Lloyd Dobler Effect performs multi-layered and upbeat music that appeals to both mainstream modern rock lovers and culturally diverse audiences. Voted the Best Blues Band in the Mid-Atlantic Region, the Kelly Bell Band combines elements of hip-hop, funk and blues at 1:20 and 4 p.m.

As part of the Singer Songwriter Concert Series, Birds of Chicago, a collective built around husband and wife duo JT Nero and Allison Russell, will perform on the Main Street Pavilion Stage from noon to 2 p.m. All-vocal rock band Face follows at 2:30 p.m. with incredible vocal harmonies, heart-pounding vocal drums and humorous stage presence. Singer songwriter Travis Tucker, best known for his success on American Idol, takes the stage at 4 p.m.

The fun continues with four more stages of entertainment featuring a cappella and community groups and the ever-popular performances of the Alte Kameraden German Band and Alt-Washingtonia Bavarian Dancers.

The Wine Terrace on the lawn of Kentlands Mansion offers an elegant retreat where patrons can enjoy wine tastings and purchase glasses and bottles of wine from Maryland wineries and local retailers, including Pinky and Pepe’s Grape Escape, The Wine Harvest, Linganore Winecellars and The Winery at Olney. To complement the wines, Whole Foods, The Melting Pot and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse will offer “food bites.” Wine tasting packages are available. A traditional Beer Garden also features Dogfish Head Alehouse 60 Minute IPA, Namaste, Firefly Pale Ale, and Punkin Ale.

Oktoberfest at the Kentlands is hosted in partnership with Dogfish Head Alehouse and the Kentlands Community Foundation. It is sponsored in part by Kentlands Square by Saul, Kentlands Citizens Assembly, Pinky & Pepe’s Grape Escape, Elaine Koch, iHeart Media, Mike Aubrey, Washington Parent, Whole Foods Kentlands, The Winery at Olney, The Wine Harvest, Linganore Winecellars, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, The Melting Pot, O’Hair Salon and Spa, Wellman General Contracting & Home Improvement, and the Maryland State Arts Council.

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