Sixth Annual Jonesboro Oktoberfest Raises Funds for All Saints Classical Lutheran School (Jonesboro, Arkansas)

The sixth annual Jonesboro Oktoberfest took place on Saturday, Oct. 17, at All Saints Lutheran Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The event celebrated German culture through live music, traditional food, and games, serving as a primary annual fundraiser for All Saints Classical Lutheran School.

All Saints Lutheran Church hosted the festival on its grounds at the corner of Rains Street and Highland Drive. Father Jerome Leckband, Headmaster of All Saints Classical Lutheran School, noted that the event has grown steadily each year, with over 600 attendees this year—a 30% increase from last year.

General admission was free for attendees under 21, while adults paid a $15 entry fee at the gate to access the Biergarten and entertainment areas. Local businesses, including Brick Oven, Soul & Spirits Brewery, Lebowski’s Brewing Co., and Native Brew Works, contributed food and beer for the event. The church congregation also prepared traditional German dishes.

Oompah-Calypse, a polka band from Alabama, provided live entertainment, playing a mix of traditional German music and popular songs with a folk twist. The festival featured several traditional activities and contests, encouraging attendees to participate in a “Best Dressed” contest by wearing traditional Bavarian attire like dirndls and lederhosen.

Games included Hammerschlagen, where players attempt to drive a nail into a wooden barrel using as few hammer swings as possible, and the Brat Toss, which challenged teams to catch a tossed bratwurst in a stein, stepping back with each successful catch. The event highlighted the community’s commitment to preserving cultural traditions and supporting local educational institutions.

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