Mugs Overflow at Boisterous Oktoberfest Kickoff

With three swings of a hammer, Rochester Mayor Stuart Bikson effectively kicked off Rochester Mills Beer Company's 2013 Oktoberfest on Thursday, as the festival's namesake beer poured from a freshly tapped keg at the festival's main stage. 

The four-day event, which runs through Sunday, opened Thursday with a ceremonial tapping of the Oktoberfest beer keg, a dose of German-style music, hot bratwursts, midway games and carnival rides. 

The carnival was added to the long-running Munich-style harvest festival this year through the Rochester Hills Lions Club, which runs the similar Leader Dogs Spring Carnival each spring at the Rochester Hills Kmart parking lot.

"I think things are going really well," Walter Kulesza of the Rochester Hills Lions Club said Thursday. "The atmosphere, the excitement, the energy, you can really feel the energy amongst the people. You can tell people are really excited to be here."

While Thursday's kickoff drew moderate crowds, Kulesza expects a large turnout this weekend over the course of the four-day festival.

"I think it's just going to grow every day, every night," he said. "Sunday is going to be a fantastic conclusion of something we hope to do for another 35, 36 years just like we do with the Leader Dogs Spring Carnival."

Kulesza said he feels the carnival can add to the family-friendliness of Rochester Mills' annual event. 

"I think this bring a very good aspect and a very good flavor," he said. "People can see here that adults, children and families can have a good time together here in the City of Rochester."

Oktoberfest continues 4-11 p.m. Friday, with live music inside the Rochester Mills pub from 10 p.m.-2 a.m.; noon-11 p.m. Saturday, with live music inside the pub from 10 p.m.-2 a.m. and 1-6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission to the festival area is $5 at the door, which is good throughout the weekend. Children 16 years of age and younger are admitted for free with paid admission by a parent or guardian. Admission to the carnival is free, excluding the costs associated with carnival rides and midway games.