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From This Week News:
Oktoberfest could move to village
By David J CrossEach year, it’s common to hear people question why one of the German Village Society’s major events isn’t held in the village. Those people may just get their wish.
Bill Curlis, a society trustee and event chair, announced during a board of trustees meeting Monday that the nonprofit group is hoping to bring Oktoberfest back to German Village.
Curlis was careful to stress that no plans have been finalized; however, he said the society wants to hold its annual Oktoberfest on South Third Street between Beck and Frankfort streets. The event is scheduled to take place Oct. 2-4.
That— would be pretty cool.
Fantastic idea.
Shutting down Third for a weekend is an ambitious undertaking. A lot of people have to come to an agreement.
Schiller would be my choice. Parking is an issue no matter where it would be in GV.
VERY exciting news. Bout time! :D
I think this would be a great idea as I’ve mentioned before- Schiller park would be the central point of the event with the northside e-w street (the name escapes me right now) and the block of 3rd between Whittier and Schiller would be closed for vendors etc..
I’d like to see Oktoberfest at the City Center site.
As a GV resident, I’m not all that curious to see how an Oktoberfest would go in the neighborhood. I know what it’s like during Village Valuables or Village Lights - a huge pain that only lasts for a day. Shutting down the major thoroughfare for four days will divert traffic to City Park and Mohawk, which are just barely wide enough in some places for two-way traffic due to on-street parking.
I’d want to see changes to parking rules, including more No Parking From Here To Corner signs to ease tight turns at some intersections, and to have those parking rules enforced. I’d be okay if they turned some of the non-permit streets in GV into permit-only, even if just during Oktoberfest, to make sure actual residents can still park somewhat near their own homes (Mohawk, for example, doesn’t require the “A” permit for on-street parking like City Park does). The city could make a small fortune off permits and citations. Muirfield does something similar during the Memorial week to keep visitors from making themselves at home.
I’d also like the Society to have an organized plan for cleanup. Cups and wrappers won’t magically stay within the fences, and they won’t magically disappear when the fences come up. My yard is my yard, not a prop or a set for tourists to trash.
Noise violations are small potatoes compared to the possible damage or vandalism that ‘Fest-goers could cause. Any comments from Vic Villagers regarding what it’s like around ComFest?
Sounds good, but what about using Mohawk instead? It’s more brick/German Village-y and less trafficked.
Finally!!!! Despite the challenges, as a German Village resident I say bring it on! It’s time to bring the tradition back where it belongs…to celebrate the rich history of the community and the spirit of the people that carry on!
If Oktoberfest weren’t a fundraiser for GVS, I think I would probably feel a little different about it taking place in other neighborhoods. I think having it in the heart of German Village will not only make the festival itself that much better for guests, but it will be a boon to the businesses in the neighborhood that weekend.
I’ll toast to that!!!!!!!!! (love the way you think)
I too would like to hear from how neighbors of Goodale park deal with the craziness that is Comfest.
Overall, I like the idea of having it actually in the village. (I always like things I can walk to, particularly if said things offer the chance to drink.) But I do think that moving it into GV presents some serious challenges, as others have noted, parking being one especially.
I think that 3rd is definitely a better location that Mohawk. The street is wider and better able to accommodate vendors and large crowds. Plus, Mohawk is much more residential, particularly in the mentioned stretch.
True, I forget how many people are willing to pay $10 to buy $7 brats.
Do you guys not have a hard time with off street parking all the time? if that’s the case, sign me up for living in GV asap!!
I think it really depends on where you live in GV. Some streets are permit parking, others are not. The couple of places I rented at in GV never had off-street parking, and we never had much trouble finding spots outside of a few events (cough Village Valuables cough).
I never had an issue parking to go to the Bookloft
Back when I lived in VV and it was Comfest time, we (and all the neighbors I knew) would stock up the fridge with supplies, park the car for the full weekend, then sit back and enjoy the festivities. Just plan ahead and prepare yourselves for an incredibly fun weekend in the neighborhood, sans car. You as a neighborhood are hosting a party! Enjoy it! Get the grill ready and let your friends know when to stop by. Perhaps the GVS should look into setting up a park & ride if it’s really that bad? Finally, this event is going to feel like it has some authenticity!!
Comfest is really good about organizing cleaning up of the park. Residents clean up their own yards. Maybe you’ll have a bottle end up in your shrubs. Not a huge deal to take care of your own little piece. You’re hosting, AND directly benefiting I might add. Two days after Comfest, you wouldn’t even know it was there, aside from the recovering grass in Goodale.
I would LOVE that. Oktoberfest should be about German Village, and not about cramming yourself with cream puffs and beer. 3rd is better than Mohawk, because there are a lot more businesses on 3rd that could benefit. Not that it’s far from Mohawk, but whatever.
It would be even better if there were multiple entry/exit points to encourange festival goers to stop into the restaurants and shops in GV.
I’ve lived here for four years, and parking was a problem only ONE time. It’t just not as bad as you’ve heard.
The park and ride idea is a great one. They had a meetpoint at Schiller last year to take GV residents down to COSI, they could do the same in reverse.
I agree with a majority of the people here. Bring the ‘German Village” Oktoberfest back to it’s home. As for parking why not get a few sponsors to backa shuttle bus from the Old Kroger store at Parsons and Livingston, or also use the new garage Chidrens built? Both have limited use over the weekend. You also have to have additional pedestrian precautions along livingston as people walk to and form the event. Finally here are a few more lots that can be easily used:
New Grange Garage
Kroger Brewery Dist.
Mannechoir lot, Schiller park lot, Church and School lots at Livingston and Mohawk.
How about the old BOBB Lot can fit about 2000 cars there.
They could shuttle back and forth to the City Center Columbus Commons Garage downtown. ;)
Turboninja – I have been living at Park and 1st in the VV for the past two years and frankly – I never find that I experience much trouble during any of the events at Goodale.
I enjoy the happy faces and guests in the neighborhood and everyone is usually quite polite… but then again I live in Victorian Village – not in senior-citizenville, I mean…German Village. Go back to the old folks home!
Seriously though, I find I am more annoyed at the flamboyant shouts and cheers coming from Havana every Sunday night and the early morning car alarm that has to go off every other day than I am the occasional festival crowd or Gallery Hop. Daily neighborhood annoyances are way worse, but obviously QUITE mild and livable compared to many other Columbus neighborhoods.