BY CORIE LYNN
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Each October, Hays plays host to a longstanding, Ellis County tradition: Oktoberfest.
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According to Janel Moore, the Historian of the Oktoberfest Board, the festival began in 1942 when two Fort Hays State professors wanted to showcase the area\u2019s Volga German heritage.
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\u201c[They wanted] to show Volga German culture and bring the little towns together,\u201d Moore said.
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For this reason, visitors to the festival can find mountains of bierocks, or German stuffed rolls. Scholarships are also given to local college students of Volga German descent.
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During this time, visitors can also learn the history of the area, including its first settlers, through the Ellis County Historical Society
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Oktoberfest has grown since its inception nearly 80 years ago. It now serves another important purpose to Hays-area organizations.
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\u201cIt\u2019s one of the bigger ways to raise money,\u201d Moore said.
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Because of this FHSU student organizations, high school clubs and town organizations, such as the Kiwanis, set up tables selling snacks, water and other wares.
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When Oktoberfest began, however, it didn\u2019t include this variety of participants.
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\u201cWhen the little towns couldn\u2019t help [with Oktoberfest], FHSU stepped in,\u201d Moore said.
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The festival continued to grow, though the purpose of Oktoberfest remained to celebrate the culture of the Hays-area settlers.
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To match its history of change, Oktoberfest will feature new events this year. This includes a stein holding competition as well as the Deutsch Hop, in which participants will compete in an agility course while carrying steins full of beer.
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This year, Oktoberfest will also take place over two days rather than the typical one day.
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According to Moore, extending the festival to two days was done with the hope of incorporating more family-friendly events. Children can now look forward to Clydesdale horses and bouncy castles during the weekend.
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