Optimist Club's Oktoberfest 2020 Cancels In Redlands: Coronavirus

REDLANDS, CA — The Redlands Optimist Club's annual Oktoberfest, planned for Oct. 3, is canceled this year in Redlands, due to planning complications stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, according to organizers.

"It's with great sorrow that we announce the cancellation of this year's annual Redlands Oktoberfest," club officials said. "While we were looking forward to the many festivities from yodeling to the beer, we have to prioritize safety regarding COVID-19 regulations."

The event, annually held at Sylan Park on North University Street, was a popular draw for families with its authentic German food, kids' zone with bouncy house and climbing wall, oom-pah and polka bands and contests for stein-carrying, costumes and yodeling.

The Optimists' scrapping of their 2020 extravaganza follows similar calls from Oktoberfest organizers throughout the Inland Empire and California.

Among cancellations announced, to date:

• Riverside County's 31st Annual King Ludwig's Oktoberfest in Beaumont.
• Lake Arrowhead Village's massive Oktoberfest, planned to span four weekends in October.
• Mammoth Lake's German extravaganza canceled for Sept. 17-19.
• Carlsbad's St. Patrick Catholic Church's 8th Annual Oktoberfest planned for late September.
• Carlsbad Rotary clubs' Oktoberfest, an annual 4,500-person draw on a Sunday in October.
• The 25th Annual Oktoberfest set Oct. 4 in Encinitas.
• The German American Societies of San Diego's popular El Cajon festival, that was to run two weekends in September and October.
• In San Francisco's Bay Area, Clayton dropped its 2020 Oktoberfest, a three-day, Munich-style festival that included carnival rides.
• Tahoe City's Oktoberfest, featuring microbreweries, Bavarian-themed grub and games and a craft vendor village, canceled for Sept. 26.

Statewide organizers are not alone in deciding to nix a Bavarian festival this year, as German officials cited COVID-19 in April when pulling the plug on Munich's 220-year, legendary Oktoberfest, the world's largest such event annually drawing 6 million visitors.

The Redlands Optimist Club now has eyes set on 2021.

"The annual Redlands Oktoberfest for 2021 will be just as exciting, and more," the club said. "We'll still have our contests, German food vendors, and more! Please check out our site to learn more about what to expect at our future Oktoberfest event."

The Redlands Optimist Club is a community-service organization and among 3,800 Optimist Clubs throughout the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and abroad dedicated to “Bringing Out the Best in Kids.”

--------------

ALSO SEE: California Coastal Cleanup Expands To All Saturdays In September