Belleville Oktoberfest returns to Public Square. Here’s the weekend schedule & other info

Oktoberfest returns to downtown Belleville Friday and Saturday for its 43rd year.

The annual event features a variety of German food and beer, contests, games and plenty of entertainment. It’s a pretty good time.

Aside from the big fun most are familiar with, the Belleville Oktoberfest is the largest fundraiser for three of the community’s organizations: The Belleville Shrine Club of Ainad Temple , Belleville Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 53 , and Belleville Sister Cities . Oktoberfest helps make the organizations’ activities and endeavors in the community possible.

Belleville Sister Cities founding member Doris Roach said part of the funds raised at Oktoberfest benefit the organization’s Youth Exchange.

She said Sister Cities helped fund a three-week trip to Germany for 11 students this summer. The organization also has a 90-day exchange program that brings students from Paderborn, Germany, to live with host families here and attend Belleville East and West high schools.

A contingent of Paderborn Sister Cities members, including the town’s mayor, are in town for this weekend’s festivities and to visit other St. Louis area sites with local members.

Roach said the organization is always looking for new members. Once a month the members get together at a local restaurant and visit.

Anyone interested in learning more about the organization can visit the Belleville Sister Cities booth this weekend at the corner of First and West Main streets. Folks can also find a membership application at bellevillesistercities.org .

The Belleville Shrine Club booth will be located at the southeast quadrant of Public Square near the Veterans Memorial.

The club is sponsoring a Shriners Children’s screening clinic at Oktoberfest from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Art on the Square building at 30 Public Square.

The free screening will assess for pediatric orthopedic conditions, including scoliosis, clubfoot, hip conditions, limb length differences or deformities, and other conditions.

For more info or to make an appointment for a free screening, call 618-791-4043. Walk-ins are welcome.

Entertainment & events schedule

Included again this year are the biergarten tent, children’s area (first block of North Illinois Street), the Weiner Dog Race and Costume Contest, car show and more.

Friday, Sept. 20

• Noon to 3 p.m. – Rendition, German Tent Stage

• 3-6 p.m. – Shotgun Creek, Main Stage

• 4-7 p.m. – The Wurst Bavarian Band, German Tent Stage

• 5-10 p.m. – Melodic Rhythms-School of Rock, Community Stage

• 5:45-6 p.m. – Expressions Academy of Dance Performance Team, Community Stage

• 6 p.m. – Tapping of the Keg , German Tent Stage. Emcees are The Courtney Show STL host Courtney Landrum and Fox2Now’s Morning Show anchor John Pertzborn, who will tap the keg with Belleville Mayor Patty Gregory and Paderborn, Germany, Mayor Michael Dreier.

• 7-10 p.m. – Champagne Fixx, Main Stage

• 8-10 p.m. Uber Cool, German Tent Stage

Saturday, Sept. 21

• 8 a.m. to noon – Car Show Entry/Registration , East Main and North Charles streets. Entry fee $10 with portion of proceeds donated to local charities.

• 10 a.m. – Cornhole Tournament, Second and West Main streets (check-in). Tournament starts at 11 a.m. Registration fee on day of event $50 per team.

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Belleville Community Band, German Tent Stage

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Taylor Made: A Tribute to Taylor Swift, Main Stage

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – White Collar Recession, Community Band

• 2 p.m. – Wiener Dog Costume Contest & Race , West Main and First streets Registration fee $15. Race day registration available. Proceeds donated to local animal rescues.

• 2-5 p.m. – Deutschmeister Brass Band, German Tent Stage

• 2-5 p.m. – Feeling This! A Tribute to Blink 182, Main Stage

• 2-5 p.m. The Outsiders, Community Stage

• 3:30 p.m. – Car Show Awards Presentation, East Main Street

• 5 p.m. – Stein Holding Finals, Community Stage. Watch five finalists from recent stein holding contests compete one last time for all the glory … and $500.

• 6-9 p.m. – Just One More, Community Stage

• 6-9 p.m. – So Grand Polka Band, German Tent Stage

• 6-9 p.m. – The Teenage Dirtbags and The Alabama Dirtbags, Main Stage

Food & Other Info

Food vendors for this year’s event include:

• Babushka’s

• Oma Gisi’s Baked Goods

• Spudshack

• Donut Den

• Casa Maria

• The Picnic Basket

• Juan Taco

• Mi Hungry

• Bennie’s Pizza Pub

• Grillin’ & Chillin’ (Romero’s)

• Momma’s House Treats & Eats

• Delicious Bites

• Dizon’s

A map showing the location for each vendor is available online at bellevilleoktoberfest.com .

As a friendly reminder to help keep the festivities running smoothly, the Belleville Oktoberfest Facebook page includes a list of rules for the event :

• No panhandling

• No blocking of sidewalks

• No pets allowed (service animals only)

• No bicycles or skateboards

• No backpacks; clear bags only (no size restrictions)

About Belleville Oktoberfest

The 43rd annual Belleville Oktoberfest takes place 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, at Belleville’s Public Square.

This event is the largest fundraiser for three of the community’s organizations: The Belleville Shrine Club of Ainad Temple , Belleville Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 53 , and Belleville Sister Cities . Oktoberfest helps raise funds for the organizations’ activities and endeavors in the community.

To learn more about this event, visit bellevilleoktoberfest.com . For updates, check out facebook.com/bellevilleoktoberfest .