Buckley Park, polka music, beer, henna and a possible flash mob; Oktoberfest 2015 featured all six of Durango’s breweries and directed its focus on promoting local businesses. The event brings fall harvest fun to the community of Durango.

The event has taken place in Durango for nearly a decade, Alex Brandon, general manager of American General Media, said.

This year, Oktoberfest was equipped with two beer halls. One hall seated 250 people and the other sat about 100.

“This was AGM’s first year organizing Oktoberfest in Durango. It’s all based on local farms, the  six breweries, and more local business,” Brandon said.

Fifteen farms were involved with sponsoring the festival as well as local chefs, he said.

“Everyone has gotten to see a taste of all local,” Brandon said.

Sexual Assault Services Organization (SASO)

The main beneficiary of the event was Durango’s Sexual Assault Services Organization, Brandon said.

“It’s an honor to be the beneficiary at Oktoberfest,” Maura Demko, director of SASO, said. “It’s our role to provide volunteer staff at the event.”

SASO is involved within the community by providing educational courses throughout Durango, Demko said.

“A lot of people never hear about SASO outside of prevention talks at schools. Oktoberfest allows us to be more involved with the community in a more relaxed setting,” she said. “The festival helps us keep our relationship with the community.”

Last year, SASO had a dunk tank for all SASO staff at Oktoberfest, she said. This year, new booths and activities were put into play.

“We were also sponsoring last year but it was more for general awareness,” she said. “This year we are the beneficiary of the event.”

SASO offers their own events during the year and the entry cost for these types of events is higher, she said. Oktoberfest serves as a great way to remain involved if attendance for the other events is not possible.

“We had over 2,000 bracelets handed out on Saturday,” Demko said.

Event coordinators said the overall attendance exceeded their expectations. Over 50 kegs were used on the first day of the event, Saturday Oct. 10th. and an estimated 2,500 attended the event on the first day.

Demko said the attendance was consistent, which meant the volunteers had limited breaks from managing the entrance.

Parks and Recreation

In order for events like Oktoberfest to be possible, AGM needs to obtain a special event permit from the city clerk’s office, Mike Kelly, community events supervisor for DuraParks and Recreation Durango, said.

Parks and recreation is divided into two sections, Kelly said. The parks are prepared for the events under park management: the stage is set up, the park grass is mowed and the water stations are provided by Parks and Recreation.

For Oktoberfest 2015, the park was clean and ready to go, he said.

“These events benefit the community of Durango. The support of local business brings people to Durango. It helps increase the tourism,” Kelly said.