Oktupperfest/Brewfest 2025 “most successful” in years

by Dan McClelland

It was a perfect day for the town recreation department’s annual Oktupperfest and Brewfest at Flanders Park Saturday afternoon. The day began with overcast skies in the morning that blossomed into continuous sunshine for the entire afternoon and into the evening.

It was the third time Flanders Park was the site of the decades-old fall celebration here. It’s Sunset Stage bandshell made it a perfect venue for the outdoor event with entertainment.

A few years ago the town combined its two fall events, the other being the Brewfest, into a single day of fun.

“It was our most successful Oktupperfest/Brewski yet,” said a very pleased but still exhausted Laura LaBarge Monday.

Laura and her assistant Christielee Geiger were still tabulating the financial results that day.

When the town’s events turn a profit which this year’s big fall event did, the proceeds are used to underwrite and invest inother events the department now runs, but which may cost the town to run until they build in stature.

Mrs. LaBarge estimated that almost 1,000 residents and visitors took advantage of the great weather and a fun afternoon at Flanders Saturday.

There was two admission prices. With an unlimited beer ticket to sample the wares of five excellent craft brewers, the price was a bargain at $25. Non-drinkers paid a $5 per person admission.

Just shy of 500 beer tickets were sold to that many beer drinkers.

There were about eight youthful vendors showing off and selling the homemade products and other creations in this year’s Kids Row- first introduced to the event last year by the recreation department’s Hayley LaLonde, who also ran one at Spruce and Hemlock last Christmas seaon.

It gave kids a chance to be budding entrepreneurs for the day and to wet their whistles when a good deal is made.

Mrs. LaBarge said she received many compliments on the electric and energetic music of Tupper’s newest band, “Sideshow.”

The new band unites local and talented performers Max Gerstenberger, Pete Jarvis, Leon Jessie, and Aaron Mozdzier.

The Oktupperfest has been a mainstay of autumn entertainment and enjoyment for thousands of North Country residents for over 50 years and for decades it was the Tupper Lake Chamber of Commerce’s biggest event.

In the old days when it was staged at the Big Tupper Ski Center, it was two days of Bavarian-style fun on the slopes, and boasted free chairlift rides up the mountain so folks could enjoy the foliage splendor.

The two events now go hand in hand- for a combined and very popular fall event here.

Returning this year were a number of children’s activities, in the spirit of the family event. There was bouncy houses, pumpkin painting and games for kids throughout the afternoon and early evening. There was a corn pit where Town Youth Activities Coordinator Christielee was urged youngsters to shovel and move those kernels all around.

As advertised there was a site there too where kids could have their photos taken, perched atop a pile of hay bales.

In the absence of horses to pull the hay wagon, Little Wolf’s Paul Mullen pulled it with the town tractor, until he was needed down at the campgrounds to register some unexpected weekend campers. After that Bill Cote drove for a few hours, and his daughter, Mrs. LaBarge, finished up.

This year’s event boasted the most merchandise vendors in years when more than 40 parties came to peddle their wares.

Five of the six craft breweries signed to come here showed, and according to Laura, each one was pleased with sales. Most of the beer was gone by the close of business at 6p.m.

Attending was the hometown favorite, Raquette River Brewing. Back too from earlier brew events here was Valcor Brewing of Plattsburgh.

Some new breweries Bill Cote engaged for this year’s event were Bandstand Brew Works, Woodland Farm, Ledge Hill Brewing Co. and Meier’s Creek Brewing. Unfortunately Ledge Hill had to cancel last Thursday- leaving the beer vendor pool at five.

If there was one unpleasant note at this year’s event was a lack of volunteers to help the four recreation department staff members and their families, according to the event organizers. “While we appreciated those folks who did help us, it would have been nice to have more people to help us,” said Mrs. LaBarge.

“We didn’t get the place cleaned up until after 10p.m.- four hours after the event closed that day. “We were exhausted,” she confessed.