San Rafael Catholic Church is throwing open the doors to its Parish Hall in Rancho Bernardo this Friday for its annual Oktoberfest, a two-hour celebration of German food, raffle prizes and family-friendly entertainment that benefits local Knights of Columbus charities. The “Evening in Bavaria” fundraiser runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 16, and organizers say everyone is welcome to pull up a chair.
The event takes place at San Rafael Parish Hall, located at 17252 Bernardo Center Drive, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. The fundraiser is organized by the parish's Knights of Columbus Valley of Angels Council, which has run the event for years as a way to raise money while giving the Rancho Bernardo community a taste of Bavarian tradition.
What's on the Menu and Who's Entertaining the Kids
The dinner menu leans hard into German comfort food, with bratwursts, sauerkraut, German potato salad, pretzels and strudel with ice cream all on offer, per the same report. Kids get their own menu featuring hot dogs, and beer, wine and sodas will be available for purchase throughout the evening.
Children's entertainment comes courtesy of Miss Toby the Clown, who will provide face painting and balloon art for younger attendees. The Original German Band is also part of the event's recurring entertainment lineup, a tradition the parish has carried forward from past Oktoberfests.
Ticket Prices Tick Up From 2023
Admission at the door runs $25 for adults ages 19 and older, $10 for youths ages 6 to 18, and free for children 5 and under. That adult price has climbed from $20 at the 2023 edition of the event, though youth and children's admission have stayed the same across both years, the outlet's reporting shows.
Beyond the food and music, the raffle is a centerpiece of the night. Organizer Paul Thoreson said the grand prize is a four-night Palm Desert vacation getaway for four guests, a prize that has anchored the raffle in both the 2023 and 2026 events. Thoreson added that more than 20 prizes will be offered in all, including gift certificates to restaurants, markets and attractions such as The Cheesecake Factory, Black Angus, Chicken Charlie's, Chili's, Baron's Market, The Brigantine, Outback Steakhouse, Yanni's, Talk of Town Car Wash, BJ's Brew House, The Kebab Shop and Luna Grill.
Where the Money Goes
Thoreson said all net proceeds will assist Knights of Columbus Council charities. In previous years, that support has gone toward seminarians, mission work, assistance for people with intellectual disabilities, college scholarships for parish high school seniors, and a fund that lets the parish pastor directly help people in need, according to the San Rafael Parish community.
The event continues a format the parish has repeated for years, pairing hearty German fare and festive music with a charitable mission that reaches well beyond the parish hall's doors. For Rancho Bernardo residents looking for a low-key Friday evening out, the two-hour window offers dinner, entertainment and a shot at a Palm Desert getaway, all while supporting causes the Knights of Columbus have backed for years.
