Niwot's windy Oktoberfest

A windy Saturday didn't dampen Niwot's Oktoberfest spirits. The weather did, however, cause tossed signs, fallen chairs outside of The Wheel House, and fewer people participating in outdoor activities during the Oct. 9 event.

"It's been rough," said Eric Bergeson, owner of Wheel Works, The Wheel House, and the food truck La Musette. "Normally, Oktoberfest has a tent. We did our best. This morning at 8:30 a.m. we tried to put a tent out in front of our place and it just obviously wasn't working. We stopped after about a half an hour." He spoke just after chasing tumbleweeds that were blown across the Bank of the West drive-thru and onto Murray Street from beyond the nearby train tracks.

Others who were working to host events felt similarly. Marilyn Hammond from Squeak and Squawk Farms was selling harvest-themed fruit, vegetables, and treats just outside of The Little Shops in Cottonwood Square. She mentioned that the wind also affected her tent, though she found some people to help her manage organizing it when setting it up didn't work.

At the same time, there was a festive, Oktoberfest spirit which was encouraged by the bright sun and clear, fall skies. The day's events included a chili cook-off held in front of The Niwot Inn, and German dancing in Cottonwood Square, which went on despite the day's breeziness.

Later in the afternoon things improved. Julie Stenz, owner of Blessings Day Spa and member of the Oktoberfest planning committee, said, "The wind threw us a curveball, but the weather has gotten better as the day's gone on."

Stenz referred to a set of Oktoberfest-themed flower crowns in front of her. "More people are coming in for these crowns, and the bouncy horses outside have been a hit." The horses she mentioned were in an area in the parking lot just outside of her business.

A crowd gathered at the event's apple pie bakeoff were also unaffected by the weather. Once the judging was complete, attendees were offered slices of all competing pies, including a rectangular pie that judge and food writer John Lehndorff said represented a winner in the children's chef category.

Ultimately, 93-year-old Gladys Knaus received the top pie prize for her entry. Sheltered in a car from the wind, she came out when prompted after her pie was announced as the best. Though Knaus grew up on a farm and made pies her entire life, this was her first win and, admittedly, the first contest she entered.

Knaus was surrounded by family and friends and when asked about her secret for making award-winning pies said, "Use really good apples, I use only Granny Smith." She also said that to her, a good crust was just as important and that she makes hers by hand instead of in a food processor.

While the bakeoff winners were being announced, The Niwot Community Semi-Marching Free Grange "Polka" Band, under the direction of Brenda Luksch, performed at Left Hand Corner at 4:00 p.m. as revelers moved between 2nd Avenue and Cottonwood Square. The Chicken Dance gave some members of the younger crowd a chance to show off their dancing skills, while the audience joined the band in singing "In Heaven There is No Beer." Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" and a Halloween prelude, "I Want Candy," were other featured songs.

Although participants made the best of outdoor events, crowds headed to whatever activities they could find inside. That made The Wheel House a crowded place to be, while the line snaked outside the door of The Old Oak Coffeehouse.

Another of the most popular places to be was, expectedly, Fritz Family Brewers. In spite of a windblown beer garden sign, the brewery had crowds of families in its outdoor courtyard and packed seating inside. With a cuckoo clock-themed interior and a menu board full of authentic German beers, it was no surprise.

The brewery's owner Cory Buenning stopped briefly to comment on the event between pouring with three other beertenders, all of whom were keeping up with steady lines at the bar and the walk-up window.

"It's been busy and it's been really fun. It's been a nice, sunny day outside. People are enjoying everything it" Buenning said. Later on, the brewery also hosted a stein-holding competition and emptied kegs on several of their beers including their Dunkel and their award-winning Export Lager (Dortmunder). At the end of the day, crowds rivaled any other time since they opened earlier this year with Buenning calling it "by far our busiest day."

Although the wind proved to be a factor, it wasn't enough to dampen the community's enjoyment of the fall community festival. It's a testament to the Niwot business community's ability to bring people together, and residents' appreciation of any opportunity that allows them to get out and enjoy fun, outdoor activities.

Deborah Fowler of DRF Realty who helped plan this event as well as many others in the community, said, "Despite the windy weather, we all had a great time -- in Wheelworks and Fritz, with German dancing at Cottonwood Square, with delicious entries for the chili cook-off and apple pies. So glad we did this"