Sprankle Woods still celebrating German culture
While Sprankle Woods will not host Octoberfest this year, the event venue will have two events that will commemorate parts of German culture in the coming months.
Maifest, on May 9 and 10, will feature the maypole dance; U.S. Steinholding Competition; Doxie Dash and Costume Contest; authentic German and American music; foods; beverages; sweets; and more.
Bela Pater, director of marketing and community engagement for Sprankle Woods, said the event is adapted from a German tradition, which celebrates the arrival of spring — nature’s bright reawakening after winter’s cold and darkness.
The event also will bring back some of the traditions past Sprankle’s Octoberfests.
“We’ll have great food with Maifest coming up, a couple nice German bands, German and American foods, Maiboc beer, maypole dance and performances from clubs,” Pater said. “We’ll have another stage, a dachshund race again, which we did at Octoberfest.”
Pater also said the event will be educational, featuring agriculture and gardening activities, like tractor rides and planting. The event is in collaboration with the Isartaler Bavarian Club Pittsburgh.
West Fest, which is June 20 and 21, will celebrate German culture by way of theming the event around the Western film genre, which was popular in Germany, Pater said.
According to Pater, last year’s West Fest — the inaugural event in Saxonburg — was popular in the local community, and, Pater said, the organizers hope to see a few thousand people attend the event over the weekend this year as well.
Sprankle Woods, 340 Riemer Road in Winfield Township, will be a hub for activities hosted by Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market, but it also will be a venue for events organized by other groups, Pater said. While these new events might initially have smaller attendance compared to Octoberfest, Pater said there is room for growth at the venue.
“Sprankle Woods is our new home, where we can focus on 5,000 to 10,000 people instead of 20,000,” he said. “We’re certainly hoping that as we grow, we can grow the events too.”
For more information on Maifest and West Fest, visit Sprankle Woods’ website at spranklewoods.com.
