DEKALB, Texas - Oktoberfest will be making a return to DeKalb this Saturday after having to cancel last year due to COVID-19.
The event has been a city tradition since 1976, when the event was called Pioneer Day.
Festivities kicked off last weekend with Saturday in the Park, but most of the activities are set for this Saturday.
Donna McDaniel, an Oktoberfest committee member, said they are just looking to carry on the tradition.
"It's been going on for many decades," McDaniel said. "A new committee has taken over this year, and we're just working really hard to continue some of the traditions of Oktoberfest.
"All of the money raised through Oktoberfest is donated back to the community - to organizations, clubs, students and things like that."
The day will start with a Pancake Breakfast put on by the DeKalb Fire Station. This will be followed by a parade beginning at the nursing home and proceeding down U.S. Highway 82. A quilt show, variety show and more will come later.
Joni Haldeman, former chairman of Oktoberfest, requested that the grand marshals of the parade be former volunteers of the event. There will be two floats worth of former volunteers during the parade.
"We asked Joni Haldeman to be the grand marshal, but the way she always is, she doesn't want to steal the spotlight. So, she asked for all of our volunteers to be highlighted," McDaniel said. "She wanted to recognize them. But at the end of the day, we're carrying on her tradition and legacy."
McDaniel said people are excited that festivities have returned.
"We had Saturday in the Park last weekend, and the most common thing you heard was 'I'm so happy to have everybody back out,'" she said. "It's an all-day event, and it's a huge tradition here. We're just trying to raise money to give back to our organizations and groups here in DeKalb."
The full spread of events Saturday is as follows:
6 a.m. to 9 a.m. - Pancake breakfast, new fire station, Cobb Burkett Lane
8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Vendors set up down Runnels/Bowie Street/Family Life Center
10 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. - Parade begins at nursing home, proceeds down U.S. Highway 82
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Jeep show, Rails to Trails along U.S. 82
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Art Show, DHS Art Club, Family Life Center
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Quilt Show, DeKalb Oktoberfest, Family Life Center
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Kids Games, KORDS Club and Bowie County 4-H, Telford Building
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Cake walk, DeKalb Majorettes, Runnels Street
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Beans and Cornbread, Williams House Museum
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Dunkin' booth, gaga pit, 4 square, DeKalb FFA, Bowie Street
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Abbi Krueger Capps, backyard jam, by Storm Shelter
Noon - Bingo, DeKalb Professional Women's Organization
2 p.m. - Bingo, Hubbard Independent School District
5 p.m. - Oktoberfest Variety Show at DeKalb High School Auditorium
Open until 11 a.m. - Sunshine Carnival for kids