Oktoberfest Comes to Blue Point

The Blue Point Fire Department recently held its second annual Oktoberfest celebration on the grounds of the Blue Point Fire Department to benefit the Games of Chance committee.  Visitors soaked up the authentic German Oktoberfest feel while listening to live music, playing games, drinking $3 Blue Point Brewing Company beer and eating German food. 

The event was created as part of a larger Games of Chance fund, which the fire department created to benefit the community.  Through Games of Chance, the department awards an athlete of the year award and science award; it also donates to needy families.  Last year the Fire Department held a Las Vegas Night and Oktoberfest celebration and raised about $1,400 according to James Sanderlin, Chairman of the Games of Chance committee.

Sanderlin said that the department did not make money on the Oktoberfest celebration last year, but hoped that this year was different.       

Of this year's event, Sanderlin said "I was hoping for around 120 people and we've definitely had that."  Sanderlin added that at around 7 p.m. most of the food meant to be sold was already bought. 

In order to have a truly authentic event, committeeman Eric Ferraro researched German Oktoberfest.  Ferraro said the true Oktoberfest is a total of 15 days where people drink and socialize at long tables.  The Fire Department recreated that feeling with long tables, tents and a social crowd.    

Sticking to the Games of Chance theme, visitors participated in games of chance throughout the event, such as horse shoe, over under, black jack, beat the dealer and big wheel.

Sanderlin and the committee came up with the idea for Oktoberfest partly because of the aptly named Blue Point Brewing Company beer that was sold at the event, which the department purchased from the company at a discounted rate.    

Beer on tap included Blue Point's Summer Ale, Toasted Lager and Oktoberfest.  The choice in beer and price seemed to bring and keep quite a crowd.  By the early evening, two of the long food tables were turned into beer pong tables where happy visitors played beer pong using their clear Blue Point Brewing Company cups. 

"This is good beer at a decent price for a good time," said Terry Geraghty, who was present with her husband and a few cousins.  Members of Geraghty's party were eating brat wurst with saurkraut.    

Pat Wallace and Diane Matrasnano attended the event to hear German music.  Wallace said she had seen lawn signs for the celebration all week. The duo admitted the Oktoberfest beer intrigued them, "We don't drink but we're thinking of splitting a beer," Wallace said, and added that the potato pancakes were "very good."