https://www.facebook.com/SeymourOktoberfest/…read more https://www.seymouroktoberfest.com/ Seymour, Indiana, just celebrated its 45th annual downtown Oktoberfest (2017) complete with tons of food and craft vendors, fair rides, a Biergarten, music on several stages and much more. As a local, I have attended about 35 years of Seymour Oktoberfest, and truly, it just keeps getting better each year. Parking is not a problem since the event is so large (most of downtown) and there's a shuttle that takes people back / forth from the Seymour High School parking lot to the library (next to the Biergarten). The shuttle is tractor drawn, so that's fun to do anyway. On the 5 separate stages of the event are all sorts of music including a German-style 7-member band (made up mostly of local area teachers), cloggers, bluegrass, local rock bands, etc. I really like how soloists (or duets) will just be randomly placed throughout the event playing music (ie. accordion players, banjo/string bass duets, etc.). The parade starts at 1:30 every year and is huge! 5 area high school marching bands perform along the route, tons of church and non-profit floats, way too many people walking with politicians and candy is given out by many. Grab a seat somewhere away from the corner of Walnut and 2nd St. (by the library / Biergarten) since that can be a little crowded. Regarding what food to eat, ugh, that's tough to say. There's so much good from which to choose. The Sati-babi is always a crowd favorite (hunks of flame-grilled pork on a stick) along with the apple dumpling (which usually sells out). If you go away hungry, you weren't trying hard enough. Finally, the Biergarten. The logistics are pretty good with coming in and leaving, but they could have a little more room at the line to get your beer. I could have just gone at a time when they were doing contests (ie. stein holding, etc.) and that caused a bit of a bottleneck. The choices are pretty good with plenty of the mass-produced watered-down stuff (Bud Light, etc.) but they have a nice selection of German-style and local beers (ie. Spaten, Salt Creek Brewery (Bedford, IN), etc.). Hats off to the organizers and all the volunteers. So much of the event proceeds go to local non-profits. What a fun way to support good causes.