By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
On a cold and dark February night in 2023, two local residents walked into Chapel Brewing, and owner Tracie Vranich said it almost sounded like the beginning of a joke:“So I wish I could build a joke around it, but basically I was working behind the bar at Chapel and in walked to euphonium player and a Methodist pastor.”
The two local residents were the Pastor of Little Prairie Church Penny Bonsell, and husband, Tom Bonsell a member of the Bavarian Musikmeisters. The three talked about the previous Dundas festivals, including Detour Days and Dundas Days, and the lack of a celebration in recent years. As the three talked, they started to plan out what a celebration could like; Tom opened up the Bavarian Musikmeisters schedule and saw an open weekend in September, setting up Dundas for an Oktoberfest Celebration.
After a successful first year, Dundas Oktoberfest is set now to happen on the Saturday 3 weeks after Labor Day each year, which is tomorrow. The event will take place in Downtown Dundas under a large Oktoberfest-style tent. First on the main stage will be Todd ‘n’ Tina a children’s music band, at 12:30pm, followed by The Bavarian Musikmeisters a 35-piece band that starts at 2:30pm and goes through the event.
There will be several food options at the event all from Dundas businesses and organizations, Little Prairie Church will serve Brats, Hot dogs, German Style Beans, Sauerkraut, and Caramel Apples, Ruth’s on Stafford will serve Kölsch Pulled Pork or Jackfruit (V), Rosemary Pork Tenderloin, German Potato Salad, a variety of Soups and Apple Crisp. The Dundas Dukes will be serving cheese curds, and Martha’s Eats & Treats will serve freshly baked pretzels.
Drinks will also come from Dundas Businesses. Chapel Brewing will provide beer and Keepsake Cidery will serve cider. Both will serve non-alcoholic drinks as well. A drink wristband is required for any alcoholic beverages and can be purchased for $5.
Activities include things for the whole family, including horse-drawn wagon rides, pumpkin painting, lawn games, and a barrel train ride. All activities are free.
Vranich expressed how important it is for a community to have events to gather together:
“So it’s just to have this sense of community, whether you’re Dundas, Northfield, Faribault, outlying Lakeville, I mean everybody’s welcome. But to have that just feeling of yes, family is important coming together is important. The citizens, residents of Dundas, haven’t had a place to come together. So we’ve got the police officers are going to be around the city, council members, the city administrator, the business owners. We’ve got nonprofit booths.“
– Tracie Vranich, Owner of Chapel Brewing & Chair of Dundas Oktoberfest on KYMN’s Chamber Chat.
The event starts on Saturday at 12pm and goes till 6pm.
