File photo (Queens Post)
Sept. 26, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
Sunnyside will be celebrating Oktoberfest this weekend with an afternoon street festival on Skillman Avenue paired with food and drink specials at multiple restaurants.
The two events, organized by the Skillman Project—a group of restaurants and bars on the avenue—feature several family friendly activities, with 11 bars and restaurants to offer discounted prices on their menus through the night.
The street fair will begin at 4 p.m., and includes activities like face painting, art exhibits, children’s story time, and even yoga and Crossfit sessions.
Families can also take part in board games and street games, and an “Oktoberfest” band will play music live down the stretch of the fair from 51st to 45th streets.
Local groups and organizations will also set up in tables on the avenue to promote community outreach. One booth, for example, will focus on voter registration.
While the street fair will end at 8 p.m., bars and restaurants will offer specials all day and through the night.
Many restaurants and bars who have participated in past pub crawls put on by the Skillman Project are also returning this year, along with new establishments like The Skillman and Sanger Hall.
Each participating locale will offer different specials on menu items, but all bars will offer discounts on Samuel Adams Octoberfest beer and Angry Orchard Apple Cider, as the two companies are sponsors of the festival.
Some sites, like Claret Wine Bar, will offer Oktoberfest-themed foods like bratwurst sausages, sauerkraut, and pretzel. Live music will also play at many participating locations.
Unlike prior Oktoberfest events, restaurants and bars will not charge at the door, but strongly suggest that a $5 donation be made, which will go toward the food pantry at Sunnyside Reformed Church.
Jean Clancy, owner of Claret Wine Bar and an organizer for the Skillman Project, said the festivities are meant for neighbors of all ages to come out and to get to know each other and local businesses. The street fair is the second one done for Oktoberfest, which only saw pub crawls in years prior.
“It’s a community meet and mingle,” Clancy said.
The Skillman Avenue Oktoberfest Street Festival will take place on Sept. 29 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participating bars and restaurants: Copper Kettle, Cote Soleil, Aubergine Cafe, Sanger Hall, PJ Horgans, The Alcove, The Globe, Quaint, Claret Wine Bar, The Skillman, and Flynn’s Garden Inn.
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5 Comments
Oktoberfest – September 29.
It officially started September 22 over in Munich. So, it’s not really calendar ” October”. We went to Skillman and the 12 people there seemed to be enjoying themselves. The one per block Irish singers really seemed to want us to drink with their sad,sad songs.
Chaaaaange will be there spit and all.
Hey, that’s our neighborhood watchman.
Will there be tables set up down Skillman Ave where we can take our beer and enjoy it? Cause that’d be awesome!
Otherwise…eh…i go to these places to eat all the time anyway.