LAKEPORT, Calif. – This Saturday, Oct. 2, downtown Lakeport promises to be chock full of all things German – beer, bratwurst, pretzels, Lederhosen and racing dachshunds – as part of its second annual Oktoberfest celebration.

The event, sponsored by the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, will take place from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The chamber encourages everyone to wear authentic Bavarian attire, such as dirndls, felt jackets, Bundhosen and Lederhosen.

A full day of entertainment, vendors, family-style contests and fun is being provided by members of the chamber.

One of the day's main events will be the action-packed, first-ever Lake County Dachshund Derby, sponsored by Mediacom.

Chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said that, as far as they know, no one has ever hosted such a race for the spirited little canines here in Lake County.

The races begin at 3:45 p.m. in Museum Park. As of late Wednesday there were 27 dachshunds entered, she said.

Fulton said the response has been overwhelming.

“It's amazing, they're calling, they're faxing,” she said of dachshund owners, who are letting their wiener dogs rest up for the big race.

The final day to enter your dachshund is 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30 at the chamber office, 875 Lakeport Blvd., Lakeport.

Applications are available online at www.lakecochamber.com or www.oktoberfest-lakeport.com.

Other fun events plans for Saturday include a beer stein contest at the Kitchen Gallery, located at Third and Main Streets. The public is invited to enter their favorite beer steins, with prizes offered for those whose steins are chosen as favorites by Oktoberfest visitors.

Plan to enter a pretzel making contest and maybe the pretzel eating contest. Many other contests are being planned throughout the day by Oktoberfest Master of Ceremonies Tony Barthel of the Featherbed Railroad Bed & Breakfast.

Entertainment takes place all day on the Oktoberfest stage at Third and Main, provided by sponsors Bottle Rock Power, Calpine Corp. and Westgate Petroleum.

Barthel said visitors in Lakeport will be able to tune in to Oktoberfest on their radios at 88.7 FM.

The Kelseyville Jazz Band, strolling accordion players and the 2010 Commemorative Oktoberfest Beer Steins are sponsored by Gossett Alarms and North Shore Business Association, with additional sponsorship for the beer and wine garden by Lake Event Design. Close to a dozen microbrews will be on hand for the beer garden.

The steins will be available all day at Oktoberfest when purchased with either a glass of beer or microbrew. They also are available for $20 and unlimited microbrew tastings between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Barthel said the event is getting a much bigger response than expected, and they're in need of volunteers to help with setup in the morning and breakdown in the evening.

To volunteer or for more information about the event or any of the contests, contact the Lake County Chamber at 707-263-5092, or visit www.oktoberfest-lakeport.com/ or www.facebook.com/#!/oktoberfest.lakeport?ref=ts.

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