RAVENSWOOOD - Activities from apple butter making to decorating pumpkins will wrap up today at the annual Ravenswood Octoberfest at Riverfront Park.
Lucy Harbert, mayor of Ravenswood and President of the Octoberfest, said the 2010 edition had a good first day Friday and Saturday also went well.
"This is our 10th anniversary and I think this one has something for everyone," Harbert said. "We have the inflatables this year and the children are just going wild for them."
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Ravenswood Octoberfest
Harbert said the inflatables were added to the festival for the first time this year.
She added organizers are expecting a record turnout for the festival.
"We are expecting 5,000 to 6,000 for the three days and that's pretty good for Octoberfest," she said. "We had a great crowd Friday night with the car and bike show and the Norris Brothers and a Freddy Krueger movie, and the weather for Saturday was great. We had a chili cook off, a pie eating contest and (today) we will have a sack race."
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Photo by Jeffrey Saulton
Ernie DeWees, at left, stirs apple butter during the Ravenswood Octoberfest at Riverfront Park on Saturday.
This year, Harbert said the festival had 19 food vendors and 16 crafters and informational tables.
She said the Octoberfest was made possible through fundraisers and sponsors who permit the festival to not charge admission.
Harry Matheny of Leon, W.Va., has been involved with the chili cook off at the Octoberfest for the past eight years.
"My chili is the Special Forces Chili," he said. "What makes it special is a secret ingredient."
Matheny said he likes to come to the Octoberfest for the atmosphere.
"I like this little park," he said. "I came here eight years ago and I've been here ever since."
For some making a trip to the Octoberfest is a homecoming of sorts.
Becky Willis, of Summersville, is a Ravenswood native who said she makes it home for the festival every year.
"I like to come here to visit home and see friends," she said, adding her daughter, Emeleigh, said she also enjoyed coming to Ravenswood.
"I like the pumpkins," Emeleigh said as she decorated one.
