The Top 6 Reasons why Oktoberfest won’t happen in Schiller Park

I recently posted my two cents on the relocation of Oktoberfest for 2008, and basically said I’d like to see it happen in Schiller Park. Well, there was a news story in This Week News yesterday titled No plans to return Oktoberfest to Schiller Park, which felt pretty much like an answer to my proposal (although I know many other people have been saying the same thing I have for awhile now). The article pretty much gives the standard excused I’ve heard and read before. Feel free to read it at your own pace, but I’m going to break it down list style below along with a few choice quotes from the article.

The Top 6 Reasons why Oktoberfest won’t happen in Schiller Park

6. Schiller Park is too small

“Why not Schiller Park?” Curlis asked. “Where do you put 35,000 people and 12,000 cars?”

The same place you put 500,000 people and their cars for Red White and Boom. Parking lots and garages downtown and you deal with a bit of noise and traffic because it’s a party. We are a big bustling city after all.

“It outgrew Schiller Park,” said Katharine Moore, society executive director.

Huh? Here’s Schiller Park (23.45 Acres) that it “outgrew”. Here’s McFerson Commons (2.21 Acres) where it was held last year. And Here’s Genoa Park (2.07 Acres) where it’s proposed to be held in 2008. There’s really not enough room in Schiller? It’s five times the size of Genoa & McFerson combined!

5. Schiller Park could get damaged

There were concerns from the city and the society that the park would be damaged. After the most recent Oktoberfest, the society had to pay for $1,000 in repairs to grounds, Curlis said. Curlis said there has been more than a million dollars worth of improvements made to Schiller Park in the past 15 years and Oktoberfest could negate some of the upgrades. “I’m sure that’s part of parks and (recreation’s) concern also,” Curlis said.

I haven’t been over to Genoa Park in awhile, which is where Oktoberfest is scheduled to be moving to, but last I checked, this park didn’t have Astroturf. And it also didn’t have some sort of magic grass that can’t be damaged. And yes, Genoa Park is also managed by The Department of Parks and Recreation, so I’m sure it’s going to be a concern of theirs over there as well.

4. Too hard to serve beer

In addition, because alcohol couldn’t be served in the commons, and city officials wouldn’t allow streets to be closed, organizers had difficulties finding a place to serve adult beverages. These problems could persist at Schiller Park at least in some degree, Curlis said.

Comfest manages. And they’re a non-profit event. Shutting down part of a street happens during other German Village events with no problems. It can be done.

3. Shuttle buses are too hard to manage

“Shuttles are a great benefit … but that can’t be the answer for the majority of the guests,” she said.

As a former German Village resident myself, I can attest that it’s not that far to walk from Schiller Park to the Brewery District Kroger (7/10ths of a mile to be exact). People cover more ground than that during monthly gallery hops. So inversely, people can park at the pay lots there as well as several other lots and garages in the Brewery District and walk to the park. I believe the exact same park and walk system was used last year for Oktoberfest in the Arena District. No shuttles necessary for the majority of visitors.

2. The neighbors are too whiny

To have an outdoor event there, Oktoberfest organizers would need to have the support of 80 percent of the residents around the area, Curlis said, citing city code. He pointed out that residents in the area complain about parking when the Actors’ Theatre, which attracts far fewer people, use the park during the warmer months. “Right now neighbors scream and holler during the summer months,” Curlis said.

Really? Residents complain about performance art taking place right outside their doors? That’s a neighborhood amenity! That’s not something to complain about. Are German Village residents really that jaded? Really?

1. It’s not an ethnic festival, it’s a fundraiser

Moore said it is important for people to realize the society’s goal for putting on the event. “It is not our mission to present an ethnic festival each and every year,” Moore said, adding that the event is one of the nonprofit’s two major fundraisers. This year it is expected to bring in $80,000. Event organizers need to insure the event is held in the best possible manner to attract guests, Moore said.

Wow. I really don’t know what to say. I think if they want to make people aware of the goal of the event it should be renamed from “Oktoberfest” to “German Village Society Annual Fundraiser”. That would sent a pretty clear message that people will not be attending an ethnic festival.

Honestly though, I have no problem with this event being a fundraiser. I think that’s great. But to me it just makes more sense to attract these festival-seekers into the neighborhood you’re trying to raise money for in order to keep them coming back throughout the year to support the businesses located there and potentially become residents there themselves.

I could be wrong, and maybe I’m just speaking for myself, but I think what people want is an ethnic festival.