FULTON, Mo. - An Oktoberfest celebration Saturday will seek to provide improvements to area hospitals and organizers are hoping the event will become an annual celebration.
Serenity Valley Winery, just outside of Fulton, is hosting Oktoberfest starting at 2 p.m. Saturday. A portion of the proceeds from the event, which features food, shopping, games and live entertainment, will go toward purchasing a rapid cell charging station for the Women's and Children's Hospital in Columbia. Cherie Rutter, one of the event organizers and owner of Cherie's Cake Boutique, said if enough funds are raised, a second charging station will be purchased for the Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital in Columbia.
Rutter said the hope is the winery's Oktoberfest will become an annual celebration and will be able to provide enough funds to purchase a charging station for every hospital in Columbia, Jefferson City and Fulton.
Rutter said the event will feature many children's activities, German food and barbecue, German wines and beers, as well as entertainment. A German band will start things off from 2-6 p.m., and the event will close with Jefferson City's Glover Brown and an Evening with Friends.
Brown said he also will be joined by comedian David Graham, known for his clean comedy and musical talent. Brown said he volunteered to be part of the event after he learned of its charitable purposes.
"I, just being me and always wanting to give something back to the community, volunteered," Brown said.
Graham said he and Brown met a few months ago and became "fast friends." Graham said he prides himself on providing a good, wholesome and clean comedy show that families can come and enjoy.
Brown will be singing mostly adult contemporary and smooth jazz, though he said he will do almost anything outside of hard rock or hard country.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for kids age 12 and over. VIP tickets are available for $20 and include a glass of wine or beer and a free T-shirt.