Wednesday, 04 December 2024

Lakeport celebrates German culture in annual Oktoberfest

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Dachshunds race in Lake County's first dachshund derby during Oktoberfest on Saturday, October 2, 2010, in Lakeport, Calif. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
 

 


 


LAKEPORT, Calif. – Downtown Lakeport celebrated German customs, food and culture with the annual Oktoberfest held Saturday.


The Lake County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.


Several blocks of Main Street were closed, with visitors checking out vendor booths that were positioned in the middle of the street.


Master of ceremonies Tony Barthel directed the action from the Oktoberfest stage at Third and Main streets, where there were performances during the day from the Sweet Adelines, Clear Lake Clickers, Twice As Good and the Kelseyville Jazz Band.


It proved a busy day for activities in the city, with the Sponsoring Survivorship walk to raise funds for fighting cancer starting off the day.

 

 

 

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Lannette Huffman and Keegan Huffman were costume contest winners at Lakeport's Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Photo by Tera DeVroede.

 

 


Also taking place Saturday was the annual Konocti Challenge bike race around Lake County, which started and ended in Lakeport. After the event, numerous cyclists still in their riding togs came down to visit Oktoberfest.


There were plenty of pretzels, bratwursts and steins filled with beer to be found throughout town during the day.


Besides the food and fun, Oktoberfest proved to be a wiener dog wonderland, with dozens of dachshunds and their proud owners parading through downtown.


They were there for the dachshund derby – heralded as the county's first – held in front of the Old Courthouse Museum.


Chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said a total of 29 dachshunds had been signed up for the races, which drew a crowd that clustered tightly around the small race course.


The first race was a bit bumpy – after the starting signal was given, the dogs didn't seem clear on the concept and stood around at one end of the race course, until their owners began running with them toward the finish line.

 

 

 

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Participants in the dog costume contest parade through the ring near the Old Courthouse Museum in downtown Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
 

 

 


As the races progressed, everyone got the hang of it, with the dogs getting help from humans waiting at the finish line to coax them there. Some of the dogs who had participated in the pre-race costume contest ran in full costume – one, notably, dressed as a hot dog.


The humans also got their opportunity for dress up, with many people decked out in Lederhosen and dirndls.


Lannette Huffman won the dirndl costume contest for women, with Keegan Huffman winning the Lederhosen contest.


The event wound up with an evening performance by the LC Diamonds, who played at a street dance that ended at 9 p.m.


E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

 

 

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The Kelseyville High School Jazz Band played during the afternoon portion of Oktoberfest in Lakeport, Calif., on Saturday, October 2, 2010. Photo by Tera DeVroede.
 

 

 

 

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A collection of German beer steins were on display at The Kitchen Gallery, where visitors could vote for their favorite stein. Photo by Elizabeth Larson.
 

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