The Lake Highlands Town Center will one day be the heart of the Lake Highlands community. There are grand plans in store for the site, some of which are already in place, such as the amphitheater and the Lake Highlands DART station. But, while that day may still be in the future, the Exchange Club of Lake Highlands has an event planned that will turn the town center into the place to be this weekend.

All over the world, people are gathering to celebrate Oktoberfest, which originated in Munich, Germany, and attracts over five million attendees every year. The Exchange Club will be hosting its own Oktoberfest at the town center this Saturday, Oct. 1, and several thousand people are expected to be in attendance.

The event will last from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and there won’t be a dull moment throughout the event. The Exchange Club has performances lined up for the entire afternoon, including Matt Tolentino and the Royal Klobasneks, STV Almrausch and Doc Flohr’s Oktoberfest Band. Even Lake Highlands High School is getting involved, with appearances by the cheerleaders, the Wranglers and the Highlandettes. All the performances will be held near or at the amphitheater.

Of course, what’s Oktoberfest without plenty of food and beer? Both will be in great supply this Saturday, as the Exchange Club has enlisted the services of several top vendors, such as Kuby’s Sausage House, Urban Crust and Eat the World.

In order to make things easier for the vendors, the Exchange Club is implementing a system similar to the State Fair. Guests will pay for their food, drinks and other items with tickets instead of money. Each ticket is worth one dollar. Tickets can be purchased at the Lake Highlands Oktoberfest ticket stands  with cash or credit. However, it is recommended that patrons bring cash, as there will only be one ticket stand with a credit card machine. There will be an ATM on-site if needed.

The Exchange Club is billing Oktoberfest as a family event and they’ve lived up to their promise, setting aside an entire area just for kids. The Kid Zone costs five tickets (adults and children 2 years and under are free) and will keep children preoccupied for hours. Even the most energetic kids will be kept busy by the sheer amount of activities in the Kid Zone, as there will be multiple bounce houses, a petting zoo, an inflatable obstacle course and multiple carnival games.

And for those seeking the ultimate Oktoberfest experience, the Exchange Club has a separate area called the Samuel Adam’s Biergarten. Access to the Biergarten, which is secluded and surrounded by a white picket fence, will cost $50 but has several unique benefits. Each person will receive one official Lake Highlands Oktoberfest t-shirt and stein, access to televisions for football fans, private access to beer/wine and great food smoked in Herb’s Paint and Body Smoker.

Regardless of whether it’s at the Biergarten, the Kid Zone or in the general crowd, Oktoberfest will have plenty of spirit and a great atmosphere. Hopefully, the day will come soon when the Lake Highlands Town Center will be like that everyday.

Photo courtesy of Exchange Club of Lake Highlands.