Oktoberfest

German music, dancing, food and beer are set to take over two blocks of Honolulu Avenue during the 35th annual Oktoberfest hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people are expected to crowd the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue from noon to 11 p.m. to experience Bavarian costume contests - for dogs and people - carnival rides and other attractions. “We want families to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Melinda Clarke, the chamber's executive director.

Sarah Gallardo had bought lederhosen for herself and her husband, Jose Martinez, to sport at the 35th annual Oktoberfest in Montrose on Saturday, but he couldn't squeeze into the traditional German garb. Instead, Gallardo, from Pasadena, got Martinez a green hat with a feather and a German-style dress for herself. Their two young daughters wore costumes, too, as they rode carnival rides on Honolulu Avenue near Ocean View Boulevard. “He wanted us to go all decked out,” said Gallardo, one of tens of thousands expected at the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce event.

MONTROSE — Thousands enjoyed frothy beer, warm bratwurst, freshly popped popcorn and live music Saturday along Honolulu Avenue during the annual Oktoberfest. Monrovia resident Pam Anderson started off the afternoon by snacking on some sweet popcorn and watching the crowd during what she said was destined to be a long night. Anderson attended last year’s rainy Oktoberfest, but she said she stayed for only a few hours. This year, she planned to meet some friends, drink ice-cold beers, eat a traditional German dinner, including sausages and sauerkraut, and cap off the night sometime near the event’s closing time at 11 p.m. “The food and the people mostly draw me out here,” she said.

Police arrested nine motorists Saturday on suspicion of drunk driving in the area of Montrose's 34th annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Avenue, officials said. Officers from Glendale, Burbank and South Pasadena patrolled the area surrounding the Bavarian-themed event, which was held from noon to 11 p.m. on the 2300 and 2400 block of Honolulu Avenue, as part of the “Avoid the 100” anti-DUI campaign, police said. Police stopped 75 vehicles during saturation patrols, and administered 17 sobriety tests on motorists, Glendale Police Sgt. Michael Glassick said.

This year's Oktoberfest in Montrose was a great success according to Liz Church of the Montrose Verdugo Chamber of Commerce. The chamber estimates close to 20,000 people joined in the German celebration, more visitors than last year. "People seemed to get here a lot earlier," Church said. She attributes the increase to cool, comfortable weather and television ads promoting the event. Oktoberfest was advertised during Dodger baseball games and aired on stations like the History Channel and Home and Garden Television.

Tickets for dinner at Oktoberfest can be purchased at Schreiner's Fine Sausages through September. Dinner at this year's event includes bratwurst, sauerkraut, potato salad and rye bread. Tickets cost $6.50 each. Dinner will be served from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 5 in the parking lot of Washington Mutual, 2314 Honolulu Ave., and the parking lot at Wickham Way and Honolulu Avenue. Oktoberfest will be from noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5 in the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Ave. Schreiner's Fine Sausages is at 3417 Ocean View Blvd.

MONTROSE ? Organizers of an annual Oktoberfest celebration say a City Council decision to cap discounts to nonprofits for city resources has thrown the event?s future into uncertainty. Oktoberfest ? the Montrose Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce?s largest fundraiser and a popular event in the area ? has benefited from a 75% discount for city services since 1981. But under the new policy adopted Tuesday, that discount could drop to 25% unless the city becomes a sponsor. ?It is going to make it extremely difficult,?

Glendale police reported making no arrests at Montrose's annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Avenue this past weekend. The event brought out thousands of people, lured by the Bavarian cuisine, beer and carnival rides in the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue. Police officials said the event, which went from noon to 11 p.m., went smoothly. Last year, police arrested nine motorists on suspicion of drunk driving during an “Avoid the 100” anti-DUI checkpoint. Another five people were arrested in connection with narcotics violations.

Glendale police reported making no arrests at Montrose's annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Avenue this past weekend. The event brought out thousands of people, lured by the Bavarian cuisine, beer and carnival rides in the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue. Police officials said the event, which went from noon to 11 p.m., went smoothly. Last year, police arrested nine motorists on suspicion of drunk driving during an “Avoid the 100” anti-DUI checkpoint. Another five people were arrested in connection with narcotics violations.

Sarah Gallardo had bought lederhosen for herself and her husband, Jose Martinez, to sport at the 35th annual Oktoberfest in Montrose on Saturday, but he couldn't squeeze into the traditional German garb. Instead, Gallardo, from Pasadena, got Martinez a green hat with a feather and a German-style dress for herself. Their two young daughters wore costumes, too, as they rode carnival rides on Honolulu Avenue near Ocean View Boulevard. “He wanted us to go all decked out,” said Gallardo, one of tens of thousands expected at the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce event.

German music, dancing, food and beer are set to take over two blocks of Honolulu Avenue during the 35th annual Oktoberfest hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce on Saturday. Tens of thousands of people are expected to crowd the 2300 and 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue from noon to 11 p.m. to experience Bavarian costume contests - for dogs and people - carnival rides and other attractions. “We want families to come out and enjoy themselves,” said Melinda Clarke, the chamber's executive director.

Police arrested nine motorists Saturday on suspicion of drunk driving in the area of Montrose's 34th annual Oktoberfest on Honolulu Avenue, officials said. Officers from Glendale, Burbank and South Pasadena patrolled the area surrounding the Bavarian-themed event, which was held from noon to 11 p.m. on the 2300 and 2400 block of Honolulu Avenue, as part of the “Avoid the 100” anti-DUI campaign, police said. Police stopped 75 vehicles during saturation patrols, and administered 17 sobriety tests on motorists, Glendale Police Sgt. Michael Glassick said.

MONTROSE - The smell of locally smoked bratwurst and freshly popped corn lured thousands Saturday to Honolulu Avenue to enjoy Bavarian-themed festivities at Montrose's 34th annual Oktoberfest. Warm, sunny weather drew local families and Los Angeles-area residents to the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event to enjoy beer, carnival games and music. “The food is good, and it's for a good cause,” said Eleanor Wacker, who has attended the event since it started more than three decades ago. Ticket sales from the event will support the chamber, which uses the funds to help local businesses with advertising and participation in city activities, Chamber Executive Director Melinda Clarke said.

Honolulu Avenue met Bavaria on Saturday, as the 33rd annual Oktoberfest celebration drew thousands to the Montrose Shopping District to sip beer, sample bratwurst and enjoy live bands and carnival rides. Attendees characterized Oktoberfest, hosted by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, as an annual homecoming where locals are likely to run into neighbors and old friends. "We call it our high school reunion. Everyone comes out," said volunteer Armine Akopyan, a 2005 graduate of Crescenta Valley High School.

MONTROSE— Organizers expect about 30,000 people to enjoy authentic German cuisine, traditional music and carnival rides at the 33 r d annual Oktoberfest in Montrose on Saturday. With hot temperatures expected to continue through the weekend, organizers say this year's German-themed festival will draw in thousands of families and locals. About 30,000 attended last year's festival on Honolulu Avenue. The annual festival, organized by the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, gives local businesses along the Montrose Shopping Park's main strip a needed revenue boost and more exposure to new clientele, said Ted Ayala, the chamber's executive director.

MONTROSE — Saturday’s Oktoberfest drew a surge of shoppers to Honolulu Avenue, prompting more buying than store owners have seen from the annual event in years, area leaders said. About 30,000 attendees streamed into Montrose for the German-inspired celebration, which featured beer on tap until 10 p.m., along with sausage, sauerkraut and other traditional components of Bavarian-style meals. That total was more than double last year’s attendance, when rain hampered the event, and more than in 2007, when poor weather also affected the festival’s success.

MONTROSE — Thousands enjoyed frothy beer, warm bratwurst, freshly popped popcorn and live music Saturday along Honolulu Avenue during the annual Oktoberfest. Monrovia resident Pam Anderson started off the afternoon by snacking on some sweet popcorn and watching the crowd during what she said was destined to be a long night. Anderson attended last year’s rainy Oktoberfest, but she said she stayed for only a few hours. This year, she planned to meet some friends, drink ice-cold beers, eat a traditional German dinner, including sausages and sauerkraut, and cap off the night sometime near the event’s closing time at 11 p.m. “The food and the people mostly draw me out here,” she said.

Rain, rain just wouldn’t go away, but you can’t rain on our parade. We still had a great time at Oktoberfest on Saturday. People came out in droves with their umbrellas in hand. Oktoberfest is one of Montrose’s most anticipated events and it showed. The traditional aroma of bratwurst cooking was in the air and it smelled delicious. We started off with the coloring contest and the winner was George Kamar, 5 years old and possibly a future artist. We then moved to our Best Dressed Dog contest where Lily, a miniature dachshund only 10 months old and owned by Stephanie Drucker, “wagged” away with the grand prize.