Brats, beer, polkas at Sisters Oktoberfest

The brats were sizzling, the beer was flowing, hands were clapping and toes were tapping at St. Edward the Martyr Catholic Church last Saturday.

The parish hall was packed with Oktoberfest celebrants, and the overflow crowd found seating outside in St. Winifred's Garden as they enjoyed the traditional fare of the classic German fall festival - sausages, sauerkraut, potato salad, beer brewed in Sisters by Three Creeks Brewing Co., topped off with generous slices of German chocolate cake.

"It's getting a little bigger," said John Ries, of the festival the Knights of Columbus have staged for the past eight years. "I don't know if we'll be able to handle it if it gets any bigger."

That's a good problem to have, Ries acknowledged, noting that the attendance was about triple over previous years, from 50 or 60 to 150 or more.

"The band made a big difference..." he said.

Indeed, Alpine Echoes set a festive Germanic mood in traditional folk garb, pumping out waltzes and polkas (including those traditional German folk songs "The Chicken Dance" and "The Hokey-Pokey").

Dancers from three to 74 cut the rug in the parish hall, occasionally led and instructed by lederhosen-clad members of the troupe.

Barbara Etter, of Bend, drove up for the occasion - a drive she makes each week.

"I come out here on Saturday nights to sing in the choir," she said. "This parish is so nice and warm and welcoming and fun to come to. And they have galas like this!"

The festivities were not simply for fun, though there was plenty of that. The proceeds, after expenses, will be used for the Knights of Columbus community outreach.

According to Ries, Octoberfest funds have been donated to the Kiwanis Food Bank and used to help families cope with medical bills.

"It just depends on what comes up," Ries said.

The Knights of Columbus is a charitable organization of Catholic men. Sisters' group is not a formal chapter, just a loose-knit group of men from the parish who work together on charitable projects.

"We're not big enough to have a chapter," Ries said. "We're just what you call a Round Table. We're kind of working under the charter of the Knights of Columbus chapter in Bend. They're kind of our sponsor if you will."

Ries said the Knights expect to clear about $1,500 for their charitable endeavors.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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