Oktupperfest/Brewfest at Flanders Park Saturday; park your cars in outer municipal park
Dan McClelland
by Dan McClelland
The town recreation department is combining two very tried and true successful fall events into one this weekend when the Oktupperfest/Brewfest will be staged in Flanders Park.
This is the first year that the now town-sponsored event has been staged in Flanders Park. In recent years it was successfully staged by the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce at the golf course and for decades in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s at the Big Tupper Ski Center.
It’ll be the second time in as many weeks that Tupper Lakers and their visitors have a chance to celebrate in traditional Bavarian style. This past weekend saw three big Oktoberfest days at Raquette River Brewing. Despite steady rain all day Saturday, the event saw two drier days on both flanks and the arrival of hundreds of merrymakers to enjoy the live music and myriad fun activities.
The town recreation department’s big event Saturday will feature craft beer from notable North Country brewers include Raquette River Brewing, Hex and Hop, Nine Pin, Big Slide, Maple Brewing and Lake Placid Pub and Brewery.
In addition to the Brewfest components of Saturday’s event will be a monster dash, hay rides, a bounce house, a craft fair, food trucks on site and more. The weather looks like it may cooperate for an afternoon of outdoor fun Saturday, noon to 6p.m.
The streets adjacent to Flanders Park- the lower lengths of Cliff and Mill below Lake Street and Martin Street will all be closed to vehicular traffic and parking, by order of the village board at the organizers’ request, to provide enough staging area for the annual event. Local traffic for residents there will, of course, be permitted.
Recreation Director Laura LaBarge said she and her team of organizers are encouraging people to park in the outer area of the municipal park, west of the ball field and across from McDonald’s Restaurant. People can walk from their cars behind the ball park fences and across the Little Loggers playground to Flanders Park and its bandshell, from where live music will entertain guests all afternoon.
The shoreline walkway will also be closed that afternoon in order for the hay ride operator to make runs along it.
Mrs. LaBarge said she has timed the walk from the public restrooms to Flanders Park and its only three minutes- and a shorter distance when the event was staged at the golf course. She promises plenty of signage to direct people that afternoon to designated pedestrian paths.