The second, annual OktoberfeSteveston kicks off this weekend and, as promised, it’s going to be bigger and better than before.
The fun starts at around 4 p.m. on Friday with six village restaurants co-hosting through to Sunday the celebration of all-things German, complete with a different craft brewery “pavilion” at each location.
On Saturday, No. 1 Road — from Moncton to Bayview streets — will be closed off to cars for the main event, the street party, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a DJ, Porsche car show, German accordion player, kids entertainer, Sockeyes and White Spot mascots and, of course, a German-style barbecue courtesy of Davood’s Bistro.
Also a popular feature on Saturday will be the German-themed beer garden out the back of Steveston Seafood House on Moncton Street, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., with German beer, wine and food being served. Note that the beer garden is cash only.
And from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., local rock band Thor (see below) will be the main attraction at the beer garden.
“It’s going to be fabulous, I can’t wait,” said OktoberfeSteveston organizer Davood Khatami.
“We’re not making any money out of (the street party); it’s all for the community and it’s already better than last year.
“It’s a huge step for us to get all the restaurants and beer companies involved; I’m so excited.”
The German accordion player will perform from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., while the children’s entertainer will be there from around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and a photo booth will also be on the street.
The fun doesn’t stop after the street party closes at 6 p.m.; there will be an outdoor movie screening outside Menchies at 7 p.m.
The six co-hosting restaurants and their guest craft breweries are: Davood’s Bistro (Paulaner); Hogshack (Fuggles & Warlock); Chef’s Playground Eatery (Parallel 49); Catch (Four Winds Brewery); Shady Island (Red Truck) and Britannia Brewing Company (Britannia Brewing).
Khatami said there will be stamp cards at every one of the co-hosting restaurants for festival-goers to get stamped and then enter it to win a prize.
More than 2,000 people were estimated to have taken part in the inaugural OktoberfeSteveston last year.
Thor rocking beer garden
Four members of popular local band Thor are getting set to rock the OktoberfeSteveston beer garden on the Saturday night.
Brad Kilburn (bass), Jimmy Coletsis (guitar), Johnny Fatiaki (guitar) and Paul Mason (drums) will perform from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the garden behind Steveston Seafood House.
The band, who all went to the same Richmond school at or around the same time, last played together at the Steveston Salmon Festival.
They’re being joined again by Coletsis, who is making a brief return to his native Steveston after touring Germany and will soon be en route to Russia.
“Any time Jimmy comes into town, we’re super excited,” said Kilburn.
“We’ve been playing together since around 1972, so we’re all lifelong friends. We’ve never actually rehearsed since high school.
“Each time, one of the guys just starts playing, the rest of us find the key and we just go along with it.”
