Authentic German food, seven different craft beers, polka dancing lessons and live music are simply the start of what is to become Main Street Cultural District’s third and largest celebration of Oktoberfest.

In a two-day weekend festival, Oktoberfest’s concert day will begin 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 and features an evening of live music from The Nadas and Vertical Horizons. The Oktoberfest festival begins at 1 p.m. Sept. 20.

The 200 Block of Main Street, from Kellogg Avenue to Douglas Avenue, will be closed from noon Sept. 19 to midnight Sept. 21 for the festival.

“We’ve gone from 700 people the first year to 3,000 people last year, so an opportunity came to bring a big name act to Main Street,” said Bill Malone, Oktoberfest Festival chairman and owner of Cafe Diem. “We have one night that’s just focused on music. We’re combining it with Oktoberfest because we’ve got great food and drink, so we’re bringing it all together.”

Oktoberfest Festival has become an Ames fall tradition where people gather from the local community and out of town to experience the European festival. It’s traditionally known for its German food and multiple breweries as well as Guten Tag Games, a best-dressed costume competition and polka dance.

“That’s kind of what Main Street is known for,” Malone said. “We throw these events and there’s great food and drink and a great act.”

As a nonprofit event, all funds from Oktoberfest go toward the Main Street Cultural District’s efforts to promote downtown events. The bulk of the work at the festival is done by volunteers dressed in costume. The volunteers are downtown businesses employees, other non-Main Street employers and ISU students.

“People are always wanting something cool to do to get away from their Monday through Friday routine, and events like this seem to be high on a lot of their lists,” said Terry Stark, president of the Main Street Cultural District and owner of Chocolaterie Stam. Stark also volunteers for Oktoberfest events.

“The heart of any community is the downtown in their community,” Stark said. 

Growing social media presence for the Ames Main Street Oktoberfest’s Facebook page has shown an increase in likes from 300 to more than 1,000 in the past month, according to Malone, who assisted with Oktoberfest’s promotion and planning.

“I most look forward to the crowd,” Stark said. “The crowd just loves to have a good time and they’re not destructive. They’re just enjoying the music and enjoying the other costumes and just enjoying each other’s company. It’s just an amazing, wonderful distraction from everyday life.”

The line-up for Ames Oktoberfest Weekend, with ticket prices, is as follows:

Sept. 19 — Concert Day, $25

Gates open at 6 p.m. with live music from The Nadas and Vertical Horizons. There will be  German food and drinks from multiple breweries.

Sept. 20 — Festival Day, $10

Gates open at 1 p.m. One complimentary free craft beer is available with a ticket purchase. The day includes craft beer tasting, European wine pavilion, a polka band, polka dancing, polka dance lessons, a wide variety of German food, a best-dressed costume competition and live music all day. A performance from the Standing Hampton will close the festival.

Sept. 20 and 21 — Weekend Pass, $30

This includes all activities and events on Sept. 20 and 21 as well as one complimentary free craft beer Sept. 20.

For more information on Main Street Cultural District’s Oktoberfest weekend festival and ticket information, visit its Ames Oktoberfest’s website and follow Ames Main Street Oktoberfest on Facebook.