Food will include bratwursts, German potato salad, fish sandwiches, sati babis, pizza, sirloin tip dinners, kettle corn, barbecue, tacos, pommes frites and more.
There will be a beer garden with draft beer and seltzers.
Plus, craft vendors will sell furniture and handmade goods.
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Knight of Columbus Council 1252’s inaugural Spätsommer Fest will offer attendees a taste of the annual Seymour Oktoberfest, which was canceled this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Perhaps best of all, the festival will allow local nonprofit organizations and other vendors an opportunity to earn money.
Sonnie Hardwick said it started as a way to give the Knights of Columbus as a nonprofit a chance to make up the money it expected to make from the beer garden and its food booth at the Oktoberfest.
Then they thought of the other popular things people like at the festival and reached out to the nonprofits that run those booths, Jessica Hancock said.
“We’re trying to give those organizations an opportunity to be able to earn some money,” she said.
“It’s literally a rescue mission since everybody lost out on Oktoberfest,” Allen Mikles said. “We wanted to be able to rescue everybody and give them a chance.”
The Knights of Columbus wound up as one of 14 organizations agreeing to set up a food booth at Spätsommer Fest, which is set for Sept. 18 and 19 in the B and O Parking Lot behind the Knights of Columbus building along East Second Street.
Other food vendors include Ginocchio’s Pizza, Mr. Beefy’s, The Sausage Grill, Lazy J’s Kettle Corn, Sati Babi, Enter His Courts Pommes Frites, Dudleytown Conservation Club, Rolling Pig Pin Bakery, Bob and Kev’s BBQ and Tacos Mi Casita.
The Seymour Noon Lions Club also will have a booth selling vintage Seymour Oktoberfest T-shirts, and there will be a large tent in the middle with seating along with picnic tables set up around the festival grounds.
On the street at each end of the parking lot, eight craft booths will be set up selling their goods.
Hours will be 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 19. Dave Rossi said vendors will be given the opportunity to open at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 to serve lunch if they want to.
There also will be live music on a stage set up on the west end of the parking lot. Past Tense will play from 8 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18, and Bad Medicine will perform from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 19. There also may be some walk-in musicians Sept. 19.
Tickets for the beer garden may be purchased in advance by those age 21 and older from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17 at the Knights of Columbus, 118 E. Second St., Seymour. One ticket for $3 will buy a draft beer or a seltzer or 10 tickets may be purchased for $25. Both prices are cheaper than Oktoberfest. Dave Eggers said it will be primarily domestic draft beer, but the second day will include a few imports.
Admission to the event is free, and it’s open to all ages.
“You can come in, you can grab food, you can sit down, drink a beer, eat with your family, visit craft booths, enjoy live music,” Hancock said. “Everyone is welcome to come.”
Rossi said according to Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s reopening plan due to the pandemic, the Knights of Columbus submitted a health and safety plan to the Jackson County Health Department, and it was approved.
“Masks and social distancing are going to be recommended,” he said. “Signs will be posted all over. People working in the booths have to wear masks. The festival staff will be identified by name tags, and we’ll be checking booths.”
Spätsommer Fest is a prelude to the Knights of Columbus’ spring festival, which will be in May 2021.
“Our goal is for this to be successful and for us to carry this on,” Hancock said.
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What: Knights of Columbus Council 1252’s inaugural Spätsommer Fest
When: 3 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18 and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 19 (some food vendors will open at 11 a.m. Sept. 18 for lunch)
Where: B and O Parking Lot in downtown Seymour behind the Knights of Columbus building off of East Second Street
Who: 14 food vendors and eight craft booths; open to all ages except beer garden is for age 21 and older
Cost: Admission is free
Details: There also will be a beer garden (one ticket for $3 or 10 for $25; advance tickets may be purchased from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17 at the Knights of Columbus, 118 E. Second St., Seymour) and live music (Past Tense from 8 to 11 p.m. Sept. 18 and Bad Medicine from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Sept. 19)
Information: Call 812-522-2989 or visit facebook.com/thekofcdude
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