(Oct. 15, 2015) Along with the usual staples of beer, food and live music, Saturday’s annual Octoberfest celebration in Berlin will also feature a number of new activities and events.
One of the more unusual additions looks to be the “Born to be Wild Assateague Hobby Horse Steeplechase Race,” sponsored by the Assateague Island Alliance and Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill.
During the new event, teams of three will “gallop” down Broad Street through a series of obstacles while riding, of course, a wooden hobbyhorse.
Organizer Jimmy Pavlik, a manager at Macky’s, compared the event to a relay race that is similar in tone – and humor – to Berlin’s annual bathtub race.
Ashlie Kozlowski, outreach coordinator with the alliance, said contestants are encouraged to dress in Oktoberfest lederhosen – or in costume as a horse. The alliance will provide hobbyhorses or contestants can make or bring their own.
“We’re keeping it fun and light,” she said. “We have some jumps and a pool filed with straw just to get people to be silly. Deejay BK is going to emcee the event, so it’s going to be entertaining.
“The best part is that the winners receive a beautiful wreath garland made by Bleached Butterfly in Berlin and then they’ll also receive a huge basket of cheer,” she added.
Kozlowski said all funds raised during the event would support the nonprofit, which she called a “friends” group supporting the Assateague Island National Seashore.
“We’re really excited to be partnering with the town of Berlin for this event,” she said. “Since Assateague is part of the town of Berlin, we really want to foster that relationship and that connection, and we’re very excited to have the town of Berlin highlighted in our event.”
She added that the teams and sponsors would each have the added benefit of high visibility during what is expected to be a well-attended event.
“We’ll be providing some entertainment and some community development in addition to providing awareness and fundraising for our organization,” she said.
Signup for the event is $60 per team. All racers will receive a limited edition plastic beer stein.
Sponsors for the event in addition to Macky’s are Bayside Boat Rentals, Bleached Butterfly, 28th St. Pit and Pub and Baked Dessert Cafe. Additional sponsorships are available, starting at $100.
Pavlik said the nonprofit is always looking for new members in the Alliance, which costs $50 a year and includes admission to several events on the island.
For information, visit www.berlinmainstreet.com/events/oktoberfest or www.assateagueislandalliance.org.
One of the more unusual additions looks to be the “Born to be Wild Assateague Hobby Horse Steeplechase Race,” sponsored by the Assateague Island Alliance and Macky’s Bayside Bar & Grill.
During the new event, teams of three will “gallop” down Broad Street through a series of obstacles while riding, of course, a wooden hobbyhorse.
Organizer Jimmy Pavlik, a manager at Macky’s, compared the event to a relay race that is similar in tone – and humor – to Berlin’s annual bathtub race.
Ashlie Kozlowski, outreach coordinator with the alliance, said contestants are encouraged to dress in Oktoberfest lederhosen – or in costume as a horse. The alliance will provide hobbyhorses or contestants can make or bring their own.
“We’re keeping it fun and light,” she said. “We have some jumps and a pool filed with straw just to get people to be silly. Deejay BK is going to emcee the event, so it’s going to be entertaining.
“The best part is that the winners receive a beautiful wreath garland made by Bleached Butterfly in Berlin and then they’ll also receive a huge basket of cheer,” she added.
Kozlowski said all funds raised during the event would support the nonprofit, which she called a “friends” group supporting the Assateague Island National Seashore.
“We’re really excited to be partnering with the town of Berlin for this event,” she said. “Since Assateague is part of the town of Berlin, we really want to foster that relationship and that connection, and we’re very excited to have the town of Berlin highlighted in our event.”
She added that the teams and sponsors would each have the added benefit of high visibility during what is expected to be a well-attended event.
“We’ll be providing some entertainment and some community development in addition to providing awareness and fundraising for our organization,” she said.
Signup for the event is $60 per team. All racers will receive a limited edition plastic beer stein.
Sponsors for the event in addition to Macky’s are Bayside Boat Rentals, Bleached Butterfly, 28th St. Pit and Pub and Baked Dessert Cafe. Additional sponsorships are available, starting at $100.
Pavlik said the nonprofit is always looking for new members in the Alliance, which costs $50 a year and includes admission to several events on the island.
For information, visit www.berlinmainstreet.com/events/oktoberfest or www.assateagueislandalliance.org.