Sprankle’s Octoberfest wraps up
The sixth annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest wrapped up on Sunday, Sept. 8, concluding three days of German-themed food, music and fun at Lernerville Speedway in Buffalo Township.
It was a change of scenery for Octoberfest this year, as it was moved from its former home at the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company carnival grounds where the first editions were hosted.
“Although we will miss Saxonburg and our relationship with the firemen, we really enjoyed this year at Lernerville,” said organizer and local businessman Doug Sprankle, who is also the owner of Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market in Saxonburg. “It was a great event for a lot of vendors and people, and we're excited to continue to host it.”
The centerpiece of Octoberfest was a large main tent which featured musical performances and a dance floor. As many as 37 vendors were on hand to sell food and/or drink during the event, and dozens more to sell crafts.
Some booths took the opportunity to advance a cause for an organization. The Westmoreland Marine Corps League Detachment 1416 took donations on behalf of David Dutch, one of the people who was injured in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in July.
“(Mr. Dutch is) the commandant of our Marine Corps units,” said retired Marine Ron Bouch. “We probably raised about $500. People have been very generous.”
The Friends of the Saxonburg Museum were there to collect donations to rescue the Brooklyn Bridge replica adjacent to the museum on Rebecca Street.
“We're doing a basket raffle to raise money for the Brooklyn Bridge replica,” said Brooke Wamsley, vice president of the museum. “We also have a tent set up where we're selling some things, also for the Brooklyn Bridge replica.”
Nancy Zacherl, an insurance agent based in Saxonburg, had a booth at Octoberfest on all three days to promote her business.
“We got a lot of people who stopped at our booth,” Zacherl said. “A lot of people are going to come to our business as a result of coming to Octoberfest. We had a wonderful turnout.”
For those who couldn’t decide whether to go to Octoberfest or the Saxonburg Artisan Market, which took place over the same weekend, the Saxonburg Rotary operated a shuttle which carried riders between both events. Sprankle said he wasn’t attempting to compete with the market.
