Oktoberfest to be held at Smith Fields

The annual Great Northwest Oktoberfest will move this year to Smith Fields.

The event, hosted by the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce, is celebrating its 10th year this fall and though in the past it’s been held at Depot Park downtown, this year it is being relocated due to planned construction at the park.

City Council earlier this month approved a request allowing the event to take place at Smith Fields.

Project Whitefish Kids leases and maintains the sports complex on the south end of Whitefish through an agreement with the city. Part of that agreement includes a stipulation that alcohol is not served at events at Smith Fields.

But when Oktoberfest needed a new location it asked PWK to allow it to operate there for one year. PWK agreed, but sought approval from the city to ensure it wouldn’t be in violation of its lease.

This year’s Oktoberfest is set for Sept. 26-28, and Oct. 3-5.

Kevin Gartland, executive director of the chamber, said the chamber will pay PWK a rental fee of $1,500 for the use of Smith Fields. He said the chamber has also invited PWK volunteers to work at Oktoberfest to collect tips on behalf of their group as other nonprofits do during the festival.

“We have about 7,500 people come through for Oktoberfest and we want to give them the opportunity to promote themselves,” he said.

Don Bestwick, with PWK, said the Oktoberfest events will occur on the east side of the park on the baseball fields and there is only one soccer game on the schedule during the festival that would only likely be finishing up as Oktoberfest started.

Construction work in Depot Park is set to take place in September and October this year in the park and on streets around the park as part of implementing the city’s downtown and Depot Park master plans.