Post Messenger Recorder -

This weekend will mark the first official weekend of Autumn and the celebration of Oktoberfest in New Glarus from September 25-27.

The annual festival is always held the last weekend in September.

Oktoberfest will feature a number of great activities, including free admission to the festival tent on First Street, live music, wagon rides, chainsaw carving, an antique tractor pull and of course lots of great food and refreshments, There will also be commemorative glassware as well as t-shirts and sweatshirts on sale in the festival tent.

On Friday the tent will open at 5:00 p.m., and music by Pink Houses will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Tapping of the Wooden Keg of Staghorn Octoberfest by the New Glarus Brewing Company is always a popular part of Oktoberfest and will take place at 9:00 p.m. in the festival tent.

Saturday morning is the Glenda K. Scott 5K/10K Run and two-mile walk with proceeds being donated to UW Madison Research department for Crohn's and Colitis - University of Wisconsin. Registration for the Run/Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m., with the event starting at 9:00 a.m. sharp.

There will be a 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each age group as well as an overall male and female for the 5K and 10K.

The 5K/10K Run and two-mile walk will begin on Elmer Road near the Valle Tell Soccer Field and proceed up the road until just past Edelweiss Road. Participants will turn around and while the 5K runners will return to the start/finish line, the 10K runners will turn right onto Airport Road and continue to Argue Road where they will turn around.

For more information, check out http://www.glendakscott.com.

Chainsaw wood carving will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Sue Moen

Last year's runners at the start of the Glenda K. Scott Run/Walk.

From Noon until 3:00 p.m., on Saturday the Max Drexler Bavarian Brass Band will have everyone kicking up their heels in the festival tent.

Also at Noon there will be an Antique Tractor Pull held on Third Street on the north side of Village Park. Registration for the Tractor Pull will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Wheelhouse will perform in the Festival Tent from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Boogie and the Yo-yo's will take the stage from 8:00 p.m. until Midnight.

On Sunday, September 27, music will be by Aaron Williams and the Hoodoo from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Rounding out the Oktoberfest celebration, The Jimmys play from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the festival tent.

For more festival information check out http://www.swisstown.com.