THE BRIGHT SIDE
Oktoberfest 2024 is this Saturday and Sunday, October 7th & 8th.
Downtown Lake Geneva is excited to bring this traditional German festival back to where it originated on the downtown on Broad and Geneva Street. Get ready for some tasty treats, live entertainment, beer garden, artisan market, activities for all ages, and great family fun. Oktoberfest will open on Saturday the 7th at 10 a.m. through 9 p.m. and Sunday at 10 a.m. through 8 p.m. Wristbands for $5 can be purchased for kids’ activities and include the bounce house, pumpkins, face painting, and crafting area. Both days have a great line up of fun for the whole family. The Great Geneva Pie Race is a first at the festival, live Accordion music, Topsy Turvy Stein Hosting Competitions, live performances from Steve Meisner Polka Band, Badger High School Jazz Band, DIE Kenosha Musikanten Polka Band, Rock Central, Matt Meyers & Smooth Riders, and Big Al Wetzel Band, Harbor Shores Doxie Race will be both days Saturday at 4:15 p.m. and Sunday at 3:15 p.m. The fun continues into the night at the beer garden closing at 9 p.m. on Saturday and 8 p.m. on Sunday. There will be so much to see and do on both days. The rotary club will be there with bratwursts, Knocker balls, and the Boy Scouts will have their delicious apple cider donuts. Seasonal beer will be available at Topsy Turvy Brewery, and another first at the Lake Geneva Oktoberfest will be Ax Throwing. Get Ready for a busy weekend of fall fun in Lake Geneva.
When you think about the history of Lake Geneva what do you think about?
Many think about Gary Gygax and Dungeon & Dragons. There are a lot of famous and wealthy names associated with the shorelines of Geneva Lake, the Schwinn’s, the Wrigley’s, the Maytag’s, and Driehaus’, but none have done as much for the city of Lake Geneva as Gary Gygax. Yet there are no historical markers, signs or formal recognition of Gary Gygax or Dungeon & Dragons anywhere within the city. This very famous man and his game bring in large amounts of visitors every year including the infamous Gary Con. You should drive into Lake Geneva and there should be a sign, at the least, saying: ‘Lake Geneva, Home of Dungeons & Dragons.’ Hopefully with the 50th anniversary approaching this will help push the city to make a formal designation to this important part of its history.
The game’s popularity gave the fantasy genre new life, influencing video game designers, artists, authors, costume makers and generations of Hollywood producers. In March, a new Chris Pine-led “Dungeons & Dragons” movie became the highest-grossing film in the country, unseating the latest “John Wick” blockbuster. Gary Con draws upwards of 3,000 attendees alone including Vince Vaughn, Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello and “Game of Thrones” co-creator D.B. Weiss. Not to speak or sign autographs, but to blend in and play alongside fellow gamers. More than 50 million people worldwide have played the game. Seems to be worth at least a sign but only time will tell if the city takes pride in this substantial part of its history.
Person of the Week
Lake Geneva’s new postmaster Chris Taylor.
