Berktoberfest was originally launched by the former Brew Works restaurant and brewery, located adjacent to its location on Depot Street When Brew Works closed, two young local women, Colleen Nixon and Lynn Wallace, enthusiastically took up the reins of the popular event, which now averages about 800 attendees a year.

 

"We decided, why don't we take beer as a vehicle, and turn it into a fundraiser for charity,"  Wallace told iBerkshires. "Everybody's into beer, it makes it really easy for people to feel like they've done something for their community while having fun."

 

In 2011, Wallace and Nixon were awarded a Community Recognition Award from Downtown Inc. along with other such recipients as then Mayor James Ruberto and Third Thursday creators for their community service.

 

More significantly, in the past five years the event has raised more than $10,000 in funds for local charities through its nonprofit parent company, Berkshire Brewing Heritage. Recipients of this year's proceeds include Moments House and the Elizabeth Freeman Center.

 

"It's my hope that Berktoberfest establishes itself as both a charitable trust and a community mainstay," Wallace says. "This is a tremendous opportunity to showcase not just Berkshire crafted beer, but artisans who choose to represent quality and industry in the Berkshires."

 

The lineup of breweries on hand at this year’s event is the most extensive in the festival's history, and includes some Berkshire-based favorites along with companies from around the larger region: Angry Orchard, Brewmaster Jack, Green River Ambrosia, Pretty Things, Barrington Brewing, Grey Sail Brewing, Samuel Adams, Baxter Brewing Co., Element, Lefty's Brewing Co., Wandering Star, Berkshire Brewing Co., Foolproof Brewery, Newburyport Brewing Co., Westfield River Brewing Co., Big Elm Brewing, Glass Bottom Brewery and Paper City.

 

Food is provided by a variety of local restaurants, including Baba Louie's, Flavours of Malaysia, Dottie's Coffee Lounge, Fairways Bar & Grille, and food trucks such as How We Roll and Gunther's Sausage Wagon.

 

"The people of Berkshire County rally when there is great beer to be drank, and a great event," said Wallace. "We pride ourselves on trying to make it bigger and better every year."

 

Some of these additions included the juried "Best of Berktoberfest," allowing brewers to compete for accolades and a trophy awarded to the favorite brew.  

 

Music this year includes two bands, Rebel Alliance, and the Picky Bastards with Chris Merenda, and an ongoing stream of themed games and activities, including mug-holding, keg bowling, and a relay-style "schnitzel toss," complete with prizes for the winners.

 

This year's fundraising effort also includes some very original raffle items, such as a custom-made bench that transforms into a picnic table, and a "bum drum" — essentially a steel garbage barrel featuring a charcoal grill insert and built in bottle opener, with the Berktoberfest logo etched into the side.

 

"It's the only one in existence," said Wallace.  "People are going to freak out when they see it."

 

Berktoberfest will be held from  noon to 6 this Saturday, Oct. 4, under tents in the city parking lot at the corner of McKay and Depot streets. The event is held rain or shine, and while most years have featured gray skies and rainy conditions, weather has seemed to be no deterrent to attendance or enjoyment, as evidenced in these photos and coverage from previous years.

 

"Berktoberfest only gets better with the rain," said Wallace. "It always rains at Berktoberfest, and it's the most fun you'll ever have drinking beer in the rain."

 

General admission is $26 at the door, which includes a sample mug and 10 tickets for beer samples.  A $36 VIP ticket comes with 15 tickets, and a Berktoberfest T-shirt.  For more information: Berktoberfest's website or berktoberfest@gmail.com.