This year's Old Munichburg Oktoberfest celebration in Jefferson City begins Friday, Sept. 26, instead of just happening on Saturday as in the past.
"Friday evening from 5-8 p.m., the Central United Church of Christ (Ashley and Washington streets) will be serving their Oktoberfest meal," Cathy Zumwalt, the event coordinator, said. "For a couple of years, we've had it down at the Beer Garden.
"But now the church has decided they want to participate again with their big German Pot Roast dinner."
Friday night also will be a "celebration of the German heritage" night.
"We'll have the Loehnig Family German Band from Hermann," Zumwalt said. "The Mostly Opera Singers will be performing in the dining hall.
"And the Cedar Hill Elementary Oktoberfest Choir will be performing, starting at 7 o'clock."
The Muenchberg Beer and Wine Garden will be on the church's side parking lot, just off West Ashley Street.
The event continues on Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., with many of the traditional events.
There's the Old Car Show, from 8-11 a.m., with drive-through judging beginning at 11.
"The Dachshund Derby is now called the "Dunklin Street 500 Dachshund Derby' and the costume contest to go along with it" will be staged on the Hawthorn Bank parking lot on West Dunklin Street.
Registration is from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. The costume contest is at 1. And the race begins at 2 p.m.
"The Dachshund Derby is a big draw," Zumwalt said. "We get dachshunds brought in, some all the way from Iowa and some from Illinois.
"The word gets out that that's a big thing."
The "Kids Corner" also will be on the bank parking lot.
The beer and wine garden will be open, again - but on the Prairie Farms/Central Dairy parking lot near the corner of West Dunklin and Washington streets, Zumwalt said, adding: "We'll be serving brats and hot dogs throughout the day."
West Dunklin will be closed from Broadway Street east to the middle of the block between Washington and Jefferson streets.
Plaza Tire and the gas station/convenience store will continue to be open for business, Zumwalt said, "and we can't close their businesses down."
The annual event celebrates Jefferson City's German heritage, in the area centered around Dunklin Street where many Germans first settled in the 1830s and 40s.
It will be held rain or shine, Zumwalt said.
"Of course, we'll have all the craft vendors and the food vendors," she added. "And we've got great music that's going to be on the Main Stage."
It's on Washington Street, north of Dunklin.
The Shiloh Country Band will play from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
And the Surge, from the Lake of the Ozarks, will play from 3-6 p.m.
As usual, there's no admission charge for the festival, but money is needed for vendors.
Proceeds from Oktoberfest will be used for improvements in the Old Munichberg area.
Parking is available on the lot next to Central United Church of Christ - or wherever you can find it.