SPONSORED BY: THE SEYMOUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

The Oktoberfest Bier Garten is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus of Seymour.  The Bier Garten is located in the PNC Bank parking lot near the corner of 2nd and Walnut Streets in downtown Seymour.   A special thanks to PNC Bank for allowing the use of their parking lot for this special feature of the Oktoberfest.

A gathering spot for friends to hold reunions and socialize, the Bier Garten is a popular place to meet friends. The German Band plays nearby, adding to the festive atmosphere.

SPONSORED BY: SEYMOUR OKTOBERFEST, INC.

Featured bands will be playing on the south stage each evening from 7:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on the south stage (In front of Union Hardware) on south Chestnut Street. Come and join the fans as they listen to some of their favorite bluegrass music. Bleachers will be available, but bring your lawn chairs if you prefer, and make yourselves comfortable as you enjoy three evenings of some of the best Bluegrass music in the area.   All entertainment at the Oktoberfest is free.

Our thanks to Don Tatlock who is our official organizer of the Bluegrass talent.   

Performing at the 2012 festival beginning at 7 pm. each evening were:

Thursday, Oct 4th - Sacred Calling; Common Ground

Friday, Oct. 5th - Grandview Junction; Spare Change; Deer Creek

Saturday, Oct. 6th - Destiny; Hoosier Hills; Lonesome Highway

Check this site Sept. 1, 2013 to see who will perform next year.

SPONSORED BY: THE SEYMOUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

The German Band, also known as the Schulhaus 4+3, includes a group of musicians who were also school teachers, and enjoyed playing and singing the traditional German music and polkas together.  They are popular with all ages, and encourage street dancing in front of the west stage, located near  the corner of 2nd Street and Walnut Street.   Along with the polkas, they also play the bunny hop and the chicken dance and enjoy audience participation.

THE 2012 OKTOBERFEST POLKA,and CHICKEN DANCE CONTEST was held on Saturday evening, Oct. 6th at 8:00 p.m. at the West Stage.   Registration for the contest and practice will begin at 7:00 p.m. Winners of the three age groups, 0-9, 10-17, 18-up in both categories won awards for the most outstanding dancers in each category.  Thanks for the help of the Zweite Strasse (Second Street) Dancers!   .

For a list of the 2012 Dance Contest winners, click here.

SPONSORED BY: LARRY E. NUNN & ASSOCIATES, CPA

NOTICE - NEW LOCATION  -   THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION BLDG - 107 COMMUNITY DRIVE - NO NEED TO TRY TO PARK DOWNTOWN. 

Each year Larry E. Nunn & Associates, CPA, sponsors a baking contest. Home-Baked pies and cakes (made from scratch) are brought in for judging on Thursday morning, and prizes are awarded at the North Stage at the 5:30 p.m. official opening ceremony of the Oktoberfest. Contestants must be 18 years of age and reside in Jackson County, Indiana.  You can register ahead of time with the entry form on the link below, or you can read the info on how to enter on Thursday morning when you bring in your pie or cake (must be submitted by noon on Thursday).  Questions?  Call Lora Kirts @812-523-6726.

• First, second & third prizes are awarded in each category -
  1st - $100, 2nd - $50, and 3rd $25 
• Contestants may enter only one product in each category.
• Winners will be announced at the 5:00 opening ceremonies on Thursday at the North Stage (prizes not claimed at this time must be picked up at the Larry E. Nunn Office, 410 W. 2nd Street, in Seymour)
• Cakes and pies will be judged by a panel of judges, and after judging, all pies and cakes are donated to a local homeless shelter.

For a complete list of the 2012 Baking Contest Winners, click here.    

ORGANIZED AND SPONSORED BY: SEYMOUR OKTOBERFEST, INC.

The annual 5K walk/run will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012, at  8:00 a.m. at the Seymour High School Commons area.  

• Awards are given to the winners in 13 different age categories for both men and women, in both walking and running.
• Plaques will be presented to: Overall Winner- men (in all 3 events), Overall Winner –women (in all 3 events), and Medals awarded to First and Second Place of each  of 13 age divisions in each category
• Cost is $20 on or before Sept. 21, which guarantees a t-shirt.  Entries received after Sept. 21 will be charged $25, and t-shirts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with no guarantee.  Children under 5 are free, and strollers are welcome. 
• TO DOWNLOAD A MAP OF THE 5K COURSE, CLICK HERE
 Proceeds from the 2012 5K Walk/Run will be donated to the Schneck Foundation to support the local Cancer Center.  The Oktoberfest Board hopes to raise $4,000 to donate in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Seymour Oktoberfest. 

For a complete list of the winners of the 5K walk and run, click on this link.

The Oktoberfest parade was held this year on Saturday afternoon. October 6th, at 1:30 p.m. The parade began at the high school on Community Drive, and proceeded east on 2nd Street to the downtown Oktoberfest area, turning north on Walnut Street and winding back to Community Drive.

This exciting parade included bands, dancers, floats, antique vehicles, patriotic units, kings and queens, cheerleaders, and more make this parade one of the largest in southern Indiana. Trophies are awarded for first and second place in thirteen different categories. A special trophy is awarded to the unit selected by the Oktoberfest Board as best displaying the Oktoberfest theme.  This year's theme will be 'Homecoming', celebrating the 40th year for the Seymour Oktoberfest.  

For a complete list of 2012 parade award winners, click here

SPONSORED BY: THE SEYMOUR OKTOBERFEST

Each year the Oktoberfest sponsors a window decorating contest for merchants in the downtown area. Monetary prizes are awarded for the best display of an Oktoberfest/German theme.

Winners of the 2012 Window Decorating Contest were:

1st place - Artistic Impressions

2nd place - Community Agency Building

3rd place - Global Travel

 BRADY'S AMUSEMENTS

Each year the Oktoberfest sponsors a carnival in downtown Seymour, located at the Ashcraft Parking lot in the 100 block of 2nd Street. Children of all ages enjoy the carnival area, with the games, giant slide, kiddie rides, and the bigger thrill rides for those who enjoy more excitement.

The Oktoberfest Talent contest, featuring Curt Nichols as MC, is a popular event. Open only to non-professionals (persons who do not earn money for their talents), it is held on Saturday night of the Oktoberfest at 7:30 p.m. Young people and adults are encouraged to enter.   There are four categories, from ages 1 through adult. 

To access rules and an entry form for the 2012 talent contest, please click here.

SPONSORED BY: JACKSON PARK FAMILY PHYSICIANS

A chance to show off your own delightful little one! The Baby contest was held on Saturday morning October 6th at 9:30 a.m. on the North Stage.    Proceeds from the $5 entry fee go to the Relay for Life to fight cancer.

• There are 4 age groups, 0-6 months, 7-12 months, 12-24 months, and 25 months-3 years
• There is a special category for twins, age 0-3 years
• First place winners will receive trophies, and 2nd and 3rd place winners receive ribbons in each category.   

For a list of 2012 baby contest winners, click here.

SPONSORED BY RE/MAX PROFESSIONALS OF SEYMOUR AND THE SEYMOUR OKTOBERFEST

The 16th annual HOT AIR BALLOON RACE, called a 'Hare and Hounds' race, sponsored by RE/MAX Professionals and the Seymour Oktoberfest, is always an exciting and well-attended event and was held this year on Saturday afternoon, October 6, 2012 in the field behind the high school, 2nd Street and Community Drive.  Watchers are invited to come early (around 4:15 p.m.) to go out on the field to see the huge, beautiful balloons fill with hot air and get ready for takeoff. What a beautiful sight, and a rare photo opportunity! At the signal, the 'Hare' Re/Max balloon ascends into the sky, and the other brightly colored balloons from several different states quickly follow. RE/MAX provides $2000 in prize money to be awarded each year to the winner or winners, based on their ability to drop their marker the closest to the place that is selected by the 'Hare' balloon. 

Due to a wind change after the target was dropped, there were no winners this year, and the prize money was divided among the balloons entered.

Want to enter your balloon in 2013?  Call RE/MAX at 812-522-8448.

SPONSORED BY: AISIN, U.S.A. , AND THE SEYMOUR OKTOBERFEST

Parents of children under ten years of age should not miss the opportunity to stop by 'One Kids Square', on the corner of St. Louis Avenue and S. Chestnut Street, to enjoy crafts,coloring, and story telling which are featured in this area. This area was set up especially for the young ones, who enjoy their own kind of entertainment at the festival.  

One Kid's Square Features Artist Kay Fox of Southern Indiana Center for the Arts and Melissa Wiesehan of the Jackson County Public Library, to help with the fun activities.   Coloring contest winners won a $20 gift certificate for 1st prize, $15 gift certificate for 2nd prize, and $10 gift certificate for 3rd prize in each age group.

For a list of the coloring contest winners, click here.

Adjacent to the downtown Oktoberfest, at the corner of 3rd and Ewing Streets in the downtown area, you will find a flea market. With many interesting items for sale, both new and antique, this area is for you if you are looking for a bargain or for a special item.

Its's easy to locate the flea market once you get to the Oktoberfest - just look for the big church parking lot with all the interesting booths!

SPONSORED BY: BETA KAPPA CHAPTER OF EPSILON SIGMA ALPHA SORORITY

Each year, the Oktoberfest crowns a Prince and Princess of the Oktoberfest. Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority sponsors the contest. In 2012, this will be the 40th year for a Prince and Princess to be crowned.  

Shown at left are our 2011 Prince Corey Estes and Princess Paige Covey.

All boys and girls who are residents of Jackson County and are between the ages of 6 and 10 before the Oktoberfest begins are eligible to enter. The winning Prince and Princess are determined by who raises the most money. All contestants who turn in money will receive a prize.

Funds raised by this project will benefit various philanthropic projects, including healthcare scholarships, local charities, Camp Riley for handicapped children, and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The 2012 Brat-eating Contest will be held on the Oktoberfest North Stage located at 3rd and Chestnut Streets at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 6th.  This will be the 7th year for this exciting contest.

The brat eating contest s a favorite among contestants and spectators.    The bleachers were overflowing with people cheering on their favorite contestant!  Matt Adams, who won the brat-eating contest for the last 5 years, retired in 2011, so we had a new champion last year:..

2012 First place winner - For the second year in a row, Tim Rueter of Seymour, who ate the most naked brats in 10 minutes received $250 Cash  and a $250 donation to his favorite 501(c)3 Charity in Jackson County, as well as a Trophy.  Second place,Joel Germano of Seymour, won a trophy and $100, 3rd place, Joel Eliza of Seymour won a trophy and $50.