Raising Steins to raise money for a bandshell

Participants in the dachshund dash coax their pets to the finish line in the event held during Oktoberfest (Earlene Frederick/The Report).
Participants in the dachshund dash coax their pets to the finish line in the event held during Oktoberfest (Earlene Frederick/The Report).

Annual Oktoberfest brought in thousands Sept. 10

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

With some decked out in lederhosen to celebrate German heritage at the sixth annual Old Settlers Oktoberfest Sept. 10 in Paddock Lake, event organizers are hopeful proceeds from the event takes them to the halfway point of constructing a bandshell at the Kenosha County Park, according to Rebecca Lancour.

Entering the event, the nonprofit organization had $25,000 of its $70,000 goal, Lancour stated.

“We hope to raise $10,000 today,” she said. “We will find out in a week.”

The bandshell, she said, is a permanent shelter where bands, music groups and other performers showcase their talents.

Noting the success of the downtown Kenosha bandshell, and no similar structure in Western Kenosha County, the nonprofit organization believes the addition can enliven the Village of Paddock Lake and surrounding communities.

“We want to bring that kind of a feel out to the county,” Lancour said. “It would be for public use, and maintained by County Parks.”

Public use, she said, consists of more events at Old Settlers Park, including, but not limited to, a jazz or summer concert series.

Lancour and other members of the Old Settlers Oktoberfest board are targeting completion within five years.

“I would hope to have it built within the next two years,” Lancour stated. “But we have a long-term goal of five years.”

Old Settlers Oktoberfest’s goal came to fruition after the 2014 event, when the organization received nonprofit status, therefore, allowing them to collect the funds needed to finance the bandshell project.

From 2011-2014, all proceeds went to other organizations within the community, including Kiwanis.

However, Lancour said without the support of more than 50 area businesses, the event would be unattainable.

“This whole event is totally run by donations, to get this event together, it all comes from local businesses,” she stated.

This year, businesses contributed a collective $5,000 in raffle prizes alone, Lancour added.

As businesses pitched in, Lancour said, the event not only brings in funds, but also gives residents an opportunity to have fun in the community.

“I love seeing people outside, enjoying each other’s company and talking,” Lancour said. “You don’t see a lot of cell phones around, you see everybody mingling.”

The event also featured a County Executive 5K+ run, performances by the Brew Haus Polka Kings, a Classic Car Show, German dancers, Dachshund Dash, Edelweiss Kids’ Dance and a stein hoisting competition.

The event capped off with an 8 p.m. fireworks display.

Planning for the future
As organizers wrapped up the sixth annual Oktoberfest, they are looking to next year, including the potential of selling bricks.

“But it depends on how much we can raise,” Lancour said. “We hope within the next year to start brick sales, for foundation of the bandshell.”

Buyers of the bricks can have their names, or someone else’s, memorialized onto them.


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