Beau's 3rd Annual Oktoberfest - Tickets On Sale Aug. 19th

Here is a press release from Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. about their 3rd annual Oktoberfest! Tickets go on sale August 19th.


OTTAWA — (August 9, 2011) Earlybird tickets for the Vankleek Hill Oktoberfest, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company’s signature fundraising event, will go on sale Friday August 19 — with a special incentive to buy early. The first 1000 tickets sold will be accompanied by a free CD compilation of all the musicians who will be onstage at this year’s festival.

The 2011 edition of the Vankleek Hill Oktoberfest has expanded to three days of Bavarian celebration: Friday September 30, Saturday October 1, and Sunday October 2. The extra day will mean a larger and more diverse roster of craft beer, local food, independent musicians as well as activities for adults, children and families. In its third year, Beau’s All Natural’s popular fundraiser boasts a goal of $50,000 raised, slated this year to benefit the Canadian Red Cross, Good Food Revolution, the Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society, and additional community-building not-for profits.

“I'm really excited about this year's fest,” beams brewery co-founder Steve Beauchesne. “We've been working on it all year and for such a young event it has really evolved into a unique, quality-focused extravaganza.”

Musical guests for this year’s Vankleek Hill Oktoberfest include local talents Jim Bryson and Cuff the Duke, as well as famed Toronto indie rockers Lowest of the Low. Colorado alt-country band Drag the River returns this year for an evening performance, and the festival will be graced by the presence of royalty: Canada’s Polka King, Walter Ostanek. As in previous years, traditional German oompah music and dancers will entertain through throughout the day.

Adult Oktoberfest revellers will be able to compete over the three days in fun challenges of strength and endurance, such as the “Stein-Hold Struggle,” a beer keg toss, and a spouse-carrying race. A sausage-eating contest and a sauerkraut cook-off will test those with stomachs of steel. And children and families will be welcomed into Kinderfest, a non-licensed area hosted by DooDoo the Clown. Family activities include a youth parade, giant castle-building area, face painting and malt sack races.

Bavarian and seasonally inspired food will be prominent and plentiful at this year’s event. There will be 20 Ottawa and Eastern Ontario-based restaurants serving up unique creations: sample selections such as Cheshire Cat Pub’s inimitable Reuben sandwich, or Elements of Merrickville's Beau's drunken sausages with caramelized onions on a pretzel bun.

And of course, there's the beer. The festival features seven different Beau’s brews flowing on tap, five of which have been created exclusively for this event alongside more than 30 one-off cask ales from craft breweries from Ontario and Quebec. Dieu Du Ciel from Quebec, Ottawa’s Clocktower, Barrie, ON’s Flying Monkeys, Toronto brewery Great Lakes, and Guelph’s Wellington Brewery are some of those that will be highlighted at Cask Days, hosted by Toronto's BarVolo. A Beer Speakers Series will feature World of Beer’s Stephen Beaumont as well as other notable beer experts from around the globe.

“We've got so much going on, it's almost impossible to describe how killer this is going to be,” concludes Beau’s All Natural’s Steve Beauchesne. “Last year we really nailed it — from the format to the programming to the food and beer. This year has been all about building from that model to make it even better.”

Earlybird tickets will go on sale online beginning Friday August 19 at www.beaus.ca/oktoberfest. The first 1000 tickets sold will include the limited-release compilation CD, featuring a track from each of the musicians playing this year. A single day pass for adults is $18, or one can save $9 on daily admission by purchasing a three-day pass for $45. Youth admission (18 or younger) is $5. Bus rides (roundtrip from Ottawa to Vankleek Hill and back) can be added for $12 per fare.

Ticket giveaways will take place weekly at the Beau’s Facebook page, or admission is free for “Volun-beers” who can also help out at the festival. More information is available at www.beaus.ca/oktoberfest, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beaus-All-Natural-Brewing-Co/244410471113, or by calling the brewery at 1-866-585-BEER (2337). Oh yeah!