Oktoberfest! Laid back, easy and fun

Bright red banners and balloons danced in a light October breeze at Mills Park's Pony Express Pavilion Saturday as people lined up to join Oktoberfest, a celebration to benefit the Carson City Library.

Bratwurst, potato salad, sauerkraut and beer and were on tap and the tables were laid out in long rows, German-style, for this easy, laid-back celebration that wasn't too crowded, and wasn't too slow.

A family event, it included a variety of craft booths, games for the kids and some lively dancing performed by the Capital City Clog Academy. Some of the men wore lederhosen and almost everyone donned bright green Oktoberfest hats that came with the $1 entrance fee.

"They go like hotcakes," said Tracy Haakinson, deputy director of the library. "People love them. We ran out of them last year, and it looks like we'll run out of them this year, too."

Carson City resident Susie Keilholtz said this was her first time at the event and she loved it.

"There's local talent, the food was good and this is an opportunity to help the library," she said. "I'm there two to three times a week, so I'll do anything I can to benefit them."

Oktoberfest T-shirts, magnets and beer mugs were on sale and the Friends of the Library organized a book sale for the event, which concluded at 6 p.m.

The event is organized to benefit and increase awareness of the Carson City library. This year, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the fire and police officer's survivors fund, benefiting the families of rescue workers lost during the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.