By RORY MOORE Video by MENGYAO LI
Tiger Media Network
The 53rd annual Oktoberfest took place at Municipal Park over the weekend to celebrate Volga German heritage in Hays. A popular tradition among Ellis County residents, the festival coincided with Homecoming at Fort Hays State University and featured live music, games, and customary German food like bierocks.
Amanda Rupp, president of the Volga German Centennial Association, added some creativity to the festival with the addition of child-friendly activities such as bounce houses and pumpkin contests while keeping Hays’ own twist on the celebration.
“There’s one in Kansas City that’s mainly about the mimicking of traditions and to sell merchandise,” she said. “Here, it’s really a tradition because it was started for the community and to benefit the community with the strong German heritage that runs in this county. It’s more than just a reason to party.”
Octoberfest 2025 kicks off with a telling of the Volga Germans’ trek into America. 
Cheryl Glassman portrays Catherine the Great in a blessing of the festival. 
Singing along to music. 
Dancing in German clothes. 
Lining up to buy Oktoberfest apparel. 
Marking the occasion with a stein hat. 
Ron Werth leads the Ron Werth Band with lead vocals and accordion. 
Drumming alongside Werth. 
Jerrett and Brooke Leiker lead the wedding march across the festival. 
Going under the marchers’ arms. 
Enjoying a laugh while selling beer. 
Brenda Meder lets Hailey Maldonado sing into the microphone. 
The Women’s Steinhoist Competition. 
Friends and family of Sophie H. celebrate her victory. 
The Men’s Steinhoist Competition. 
Hoisting beer in front of the crowd. 
Trash-talking to an opponent. 
Clint N. throws his beer in celebration. 
The Podium of hoisters. 
Amanda Rupp oversees the Deutsch Hop Content. 
Hopscotch with beer. 
Assisting his teammates in the OktoberFEAST Contest. 
Rupp high-fives Curtis and Malachi on winning first place. 
Beer Pong on the fairgrounds.
Rupp, who is a Volga German, felt personal pride in running the event.
“I’ve been part of it through the years I’ve lived in Hays,” she said. “The past three years, I’ve been part of it pretty strongly, helping them alongside with my duties as the Historical Society Director. It works hand-in-hand with tradition and culture. It’s a great pride, and I love to see it all come together. It shows how much Hays wants to participate even as time changes and needs change. The core reason why it’s here hasn’t been forgotten, so it’s great that everybody can work together, and there could be a little bit of something for everybody.”
Emily Knowles, event coordinator of Oktoberfest, worked with Volga German individuals to respect the tradition through festivities.
“We have many on the board who are Volga German and grew up going to this,” she said. “It’s not only keeping those traditions alive, but also keeping up with the demand of everyone who comes down here.”
The Pumpkin Rolling Contest. 
Striking a high striker. 
Jumping in the bounce house. 
Zach Cady, Hugo Perez, Mayor Sandy Jacobs, Thomas Lippert and Michael Berges judge in the Battle of the Bierock. 
The scorecard on a judge’s table. 
Mayor Jacobs shares what she liked about her meal while the other judges evaluate their scores. 
Cady gives his opinion on how the bierocks tasted. 
Announcing the results to an interested crowd. 
Sigma Chi was awarded third place. 
Mama G’s triumphed as the Battle of the Bierock champions. 
The Pumpkin Pass activity for kids. 
Dancing to music with beer.
She aims to make Oktoberfest inclusive for all people, regardless of heritage, every year.
“We have a wide variety of non-profits and commercial food vendors that help carry our load since it’s thousands of people who come here. We coordinated with Fort Hays vendors for student groups since this is their entire fundraiser for the year. We try to have a wide variety and not have too many people selling the same thing, but enough that everyone can have something.”
Through the theme of celebrating German heritage, Hays’ Oktoberfest emphasizes the sense of family in the Volga German community across Ellis County.
“That’s the heartbeat of our community,” Knowles said. “To have an event that we can get together at and celebrate our different heritages as a community.