German beer, bratwurst and an oompah band with roots stretching back to 1945 are set to take over Naper Settlement this weekend, as the museum campus's annual Oktoberfest returns for two days of music, food and family activities. The festival runs Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. at the history museum campus, located at 523 S. Webster St. in Naperville.
Admission runs $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 4 to 12, while kids under 4 get in free, according to Naper Settlement. Naper Settlement members also receive complimentary admission, per Positively Naperville. The museum's website warns that tickets bought through unofficial social media accounts or third-party sites may not be legitimate or valid at the gate, so organizers are steering attendees toward official channels only.
Parking at Naper Settlement
For visitors driving to the festival, Naper Settlement's parking information lists a free lot at Porter Avenue and Webster Street, plus free evening and weekend parking at the upper level of the Municipal Center lot and on the west side of Webster Street.
A Band With Roots Back to 1945
This year's lineup includes Ed Wagner's Lustige Blaskapelle, an oompah band with Chicago roots dating to 1945, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The band's history page says “Bro” Wagner started the group in 1945 and that his son Ed became band leader in the early 1980s. The band describes its repertoire as German, Austrian and Czech polkas, waltzes and marches, according to Ed Wagner's Brass Band.
A Chicago Oompah Tradition
Today's lineup includes Matt Wagner on baritone and Eddie Wagner on tuba, with the group's roster fluctuating between nine and 12 members depending on the day, per the Tribune. The band also includes a singer who speaks fluent German, and its set is expected to include German, Austrian and Czech tunes such as “Beer Barrel Polka,” “The Happy Wanderer,” “Edelweiss” and “Egerland Heimatland,” according to the Tribune's report. Matt Wagner told the Tribune the band shows no sign of slowing down and said the group hopes to pass its musical tradition to a fourth generation.
Ed Wagner's Lustige Blaskapelle is scheduled to play Friday at 5:30 p.m., running through 7:30 p.m., according to Positively Naperville. Matt Wagner told the Tribune the band is the only one like it in the Chicago area, though that characterization reflects his own assessment rather than an independently verified ranking.
Weekend Lineup and Headliners
Eliminator, a ZZ Top tribute act, headlines Friday night from 8 to 10 p.m., following the oompah set, per Naper Settlement's official schedule. Saturday's music lineup features Freeze Dried at 3 p.m., the Whiskey Romance Band at 5:30 p.m., and Fool House closing out the night from 8 to 10 p.m. with its “Wow! That's What I Call 90's Tour,” according to the Tribune and Positively Naperville.
Naper Settlement Oktoberfest spokesperson Denise Wilt described the festival as a fan-favorite community event that offers a traditional German Oktoberfest feel with a modern twist, per the Tribune's reporting. The event has been held annually since 2009, aiming to bring a slice of Germany to Naperville.
Food, Drink and Family Activities
The festival's food menu includes bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels, chicken schnitzel sandwiches, German potato salad, Black Forest chocolate cake, apple strudel and apple cider doughnuts, according to the Tribune. Drink options include nine beer selections along with wines and hard cider, with the lineup featuring Oberdorfer Festbier brewed in Bavaria. Naper Settlement's own event page describes German cuisine and beer “overflowing in a giant tent, with lively Oompah music.”
Families can find inflatables provided by Chasers Laser Tag in the children's area from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, according to Positively Naperville, plus painting activities from Pinot's Palette and lawn games spread across the grounds, per the Tribune. The festival bills itself as family friendly throughout both days.
Stein-Holding Contest Returns Saturday
One of the weekend's signature traditions, the stein-holding contest, is open to both men and women and kicks off Saturday at 5 p.m., running until 5:30 p.m., according to Positively Naperville. Contestants must hold a full beer stein with an outstretched arm for as long as possible, with winners earning prizes and bragging rights, per the Tribune's account. More information on tickets and the full schedule is available through Naper Settlement's website.
