Grab your lederhosen and raise your steins. It’s Oktoberfest on September 28 in Muncie.
The third annual Munich to Muncie Oktoberfest event is almost here. Oktoberfest is a German tradition that has been celebrated for over 200 years. Originating in Munich in 1810, Oktoberfest began in celebration of a wedding – Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. This nearly weeklong party convinced the couple to throw such a festival every year.
And nearly every year since 1810, Oktoberfest has been celebrated. It is now enjoyed across multiple countries and cities by millions of people all around the world – and Muncie, Indiana, is no exception.
About the Event
Munich to Muncie Oktoberfest is taking place at The Yard, Muncie’s newest venue, in partnership with Indiana on Tap. Featuring over 25 vendors, Munich to Muncie will have breweries, distilleries and wineries from all over the state in attendance. Attendees will have the opportunity to have unlimited sample pours from these vendors throughout the entire event.
In addition to plenty of drinks, there will be live music, delicious foods, and traditional German games, such as masskrugstemmen (stein holding) and bierfass werfen (keg tossing). Those who come in stylish lederhosen could win the Best Lederhosen award.
The event is 21 and over, and is happening on Saturday, September 28 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. VIP tickets are available for purchase, but there is a limited amount, so buy your tickets early. VIP tickets include entrance to the event an hour earlier, a pretzel necklace, special discounts and access to the VIP lounge.
The Nonprofit Behind Muncie’s Oktoberfest
One of the most significant aspects of the Munich to Muncie Oktoberfest event is its nonprofit behind the scenes, ecoREHAB, a Muncie-based nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing the community by rehabbing vacant homes and providing hands-on training for local youth in the construction industry.
ecoREHAB’s mission is to advance the Muncie community through the promotion and practice of sustainable design, rehabilitation and education. The work is vital to Muncie’s future. By focusing on the rehabilitation of vacant and abandoned homes, the organization is helping to restore neighborhoods, reduce blight and provide affordable housing options for residents. But ecoREHAB’s mission goes even further. Through its training programs, the organization is equipping young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in construction, an industry that is always in demand.
Jason Haney, CEO of ecoREHAB and Muncie native, saw an opportunity with the organization when he joined the team back in 2019.
“We were already rehabbing these homes, so why don’t we take 10 to 20 individuals and walk them through the process of rehabbing a home and teach them different trades as we move through the build?” Haney explained.
That’s when STEP (Skilled Trades Education Program) was born. As ecoREHAB’s primary program, the 18-week training allows students to learn the basic skills needed in the construction industry. It is a combination of classroom and on-site trainings focusing on carpentry, electrical, HVAC, masonry and plumbing.
In addition to the skills they learn, STEP students will earn:
- Their High School Equivalency diploma
- Enrollment to Ivy Tech in Muncie
- A national construction certificate
- OSHA 10 Certification
- Another bonus is that students are paid throughout the STEP program.
“The idea is to give the students a taste of all the trades and what different opportunities exist,” Haney says. “Once they have completed the program, they will have discovered what it is that they really enjoy and want to pursue in the workplace.”
Drink Beer and Support ecoREHAB:
When ecoREHAB acquired the old McCarty Lumber building, they cleaned the lot up, and the team joked about the land being the perfect place for a beer garden. That’s where the idea of the Oktoberfest in Muncie originated. Funds raised during the Munich to Muncie Oktoberfest will support ecoREHAB’s ongoing projects, allowing the organization to continue its work in the community.
By attending the festival, participants will be contributing to a cause that is making a real difference in advancing the Muncie community and promoting sustainable housing. It’s an opportunity to have fun while also giving back – a win-win.
Purchase tickets here.
