Barrhaven Oktoberfest tent may set world record
This year’s Creemore Springs Oktoberfest Ottawa presented by the Merchants of Barrhaven celebrations could have the world’s largest beer tent, states Festival founder and Co-Chair Dwight Brown.
The Myers Volkswagen Auto Haus being built at Clarke Fields Park in Barrhaven will be 80 feet wide and 310 feet long – roughly the length of a baseball field from home plate to the foul pole and as wide as from home plate to first base. Organizers plan to submit this tent size to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Brown said this year, the festival organizers are going to focus on the traditional Oktoberfest roots.
“One of the most common comments we got from the people we surveyed last year was that they wanted it to focus more on the traditional experience,” Brown said. “One of the best analogies I heard was someone who said they go to a St. Patrick’s Day Parade expecting to hear the fiddle and Irish music.” To that end, the headlining band will be a Grammy nominated Bavarian group called Black Forest Band. The Polka troupe has played all across North America and has played Oktoberfest in Munich.
In recognition of the history of the event, organizers received a grant from The Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program from Canadian Heritage this year, as well as the Partnership Program for Major Cultural Festivals and Fairs from the Of Ottawa’s city, Brown said.
The annual event is hosted by the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area and draws people as far away as Atlantic Canada and is run by community minded volunteers.
The festivities will kick off on October 3rd and run until October 5th in Clarke Fields Park which has been home to the last two festivals.
Brown said in addition to the record-breaking tent being unveiled on opening night, Oct 4th, a team of Clydesdale Horses will bring the beer casks from the Strandherd-Armstrong Bridge to the festival grounds for the annual keg-tapping ceremony. This title beer sponsor Creemore Springs is making a special Oktoberfest Ottawa beer for the weekend.
Festival hours are until midnight on October 3rd and 4th, with traditional and non traditional performances by acts like the John Carroll Band and Sweet Home Chicago Band.
Each day will also boast a number of games and contests.
Sunday is family day, with a drum circle, a visit from Little Ray’s Reptiles and The Junkyard Symphony. For the first time this year, organizers have introduced a VIP ACCESS PASS for the whole weekend.
Shuttle buses are available for $2 at the Strandherd Drive snow dump and the Strandherd Drive at Greenbank Rd OC Transpo station as parking at Clarke Fields is limited.
For more information and for admission prices, visit www.oktoberfestottawa.com.
