Ben Stahl walked through downtown Seymour Wednesday with a clipboard in hand.

The clipboard contains a master checklist, and the next thing on that list was to set up ticket booths for the 46th annual Seymour Oktoberfest’s Biergarten. That task was followed by arranging picnic tables.

Then it was on to the next project for the president of the Oktoberfest committee.

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“Right now, we’re about halfway there,” he said about midway through the morning.

He expected to get through that list by Wednesday evening and have downtown streets ready for a weekend of fun and tradition.

Stahl, who had plenty of help for his tasks, was joined by a throng of volunteers with local nonprofit organizations who also were setting up in time to serve lunch for volunteers, city workers and others willing enough to venture into the bustling downtown.

Preparations actually in late September when the downtown street signs were converted into German and city workers painted curbs and did repairs. On Tuesday evening, city workers blocked downtown streets, set up electrical outlets to power booths and helped vendors get moved into their spots.

The preparations were all part of trying to make everything perfect for the busiest weekend of the year in downtown Seymour.

While the committee utilizes 19 members who volunteer throughout the weekend, an additional 15 or more volunteers help out.

But the festival operates with help from the city’s pool of employees, including those with the departments of public works, parks and recreation, planning and zoning and wastewater treatment facility.

City police also patrol the festival area, while the Seymour Fire Department inspectors check booths for any potential fire hazards, and Whitney Kovener with the Jackson County Health Department inspects all food booths before they can open.

“It’s probably easier to ask which departments are not used,” Stahl said.

Department of Public Works employees play a large role in preparing the city streets, providing labor and other needs.

On Monday morning, employees were clearing streets with leaf blowers, and a city sweeper buffered the downtown streets.

The work that is done to prepare for the festival continues through the weekend, Stahl said.

“Basically every morning from 8 a.m. to 11, we check the things we’ve put in place,” he said.

That includes making sure water and power still work, cleaning the streets and making sure port-a-pots have been serviced.

In the end, it’s all worth it to Stahl when he sees the streets lined with festivalgoers as they make food selections and visit with family and friends.

“Every year the first week before, I get stressed out,” he said. “But Thursday rolls around and you see all the smiles and people having a good time and you know it’s worth it.”