Ambler kicks off fall with Oktoberfest on first Friday

AMBLER — Community residents and residents looking to kick off the fall season can do so in downtown Ambler.

The district will host two major events over the weekend of October 7-9. First Friday and Oktoberfest. Both offer dining, shopping and live entertainment along Butler Pike. According to Ambler Main Street Manager Elizabeth Wahl Kunzier, thousands of people are expected to attend the free event.

“The whole town comes out,” Wall Kunzier said of Oktoberfest. “I get to meet my neighbors. ”

The first Friday of the weekend takes place on October 7th from 6pm to 10pm. According to Wahl Kunzier, Apple Juice Jones and The Cherry Lane Band will perform on his Lindenwold Avenue parking lot stage. There are food trucks and beer gardens on Ridge Avenue, and vendors on nearby Butler His Avenue.

The party is scheduled to continue Saturday at Oktoberfest. The 30th annual event takes place throughout downtown Ambler from 11am to 10pm.

According to Wahl Kunzier, planning for the fall festivities actually began in June, with organizers enlisting about 30 volunteers to run the event. Food trucks and beer gardens will remain, and there will be 75 different vendors for attendees to stroll and shop, she said.

According to Wahl Kunzier, musical acts on this day include School of Rock, Beth Arnold Gilbert, Atomic Clone, Analog Groove, Mostly Harmless, River of Dreams, and Hi Def Band. Forest and Main Brewing Company, Stone and Key Cellars Tannery Run Brew Works will also be selling drinks throughout Oktoberfest.

Proceeds from beer sales will benefit Ambler Main Street and the Ambler Rotary Club.

“We make most of our money from beer sales from these events,” Wall Kunzier said. “That goes for everything we can give back to the town.”

According to Wahl Kunzier, funds directed to district Rotary clubs also provide grants to nonprofit organizations such as the Family Promise and the Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard.

The first Friday of next week wraps up our summer seasonal events. Wahl Kunzier said the event went well for the most part, even though the first Friday in May was rained out.

Wahl Kunzier recalled how the structure of downtown events has changed in recent years, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She found that people gravitated toward outdoor-style events.Find out more about Oktoberfest here Facebook page of Ambler Main Street.

“I think our event was attended by a lot more people than it was pre-pandemic. Especially last year’s Oktoberfest It was the first event we held since the pandemic and it was a huge success,” she said.