Part of The Village at Winona’s Oktoberfest this year was a scarecrow contest. Funds raised from the contest will go towards building the new ice skating rink by the lake. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WINONA LAKE — German culture once again came to Winona Lake on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The Village at Winona Lake held its annual Oktoberfest. Attendees could enjoy children’s activities, view a lineup of Porsches and make streusel.

New this year was a beer stein holding contest. Participants held a stein full of water with one hand and their arm straight out. Those who did so the longest won their respective age and gender categories.

This is the sixth year the Village has run the festival, though Cerulean started it about four years before that, said Village Managing Director Nick Hauck. He said COVID-19 didn’t really minimize festival attendance. Gov. Eric Holcomb’s moving Indiana into stage 5 of reopening also helped, he said.

Hauck said the annual Hash Run and Ride the Kosciusko County Velo (KCV) Cycling Club sponsors during the event did have to go virtual this year. Participants have all of October to complete 12 hours of cycling and log in their hours. People may still enter by paying $30, which goes back to maintaining area off-road trails.

Those interested should visit the club’s Facebook page where the group will announce soon how to enter.

The last event of the year for the Village is its tree lighting for Christmas.

Porsches lined up at The Village at Winona’s Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26.

Josh Fritz competes in the first ever beer stein holding contest at The Village at Winona’s Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26. With his time of a little more than 3 minutes and 9 seconds, he won the men’s category and overall.

Some attendees at The Village at Winona Lake’s Oktoberfest on Saturday, Sept. 26, opted to dress in German attire. From left: Jeff Soule chats with Jimmy and Maureen Arata.