Oktoberfest, Country Night fundraisers Saturday in downtown Bradenton

Here’s a great way to feel good about spending all afternoon and evening downtown drinking and dancing the night away.

This Saturday, downtown is the site of two major fundraisers for a couple of local organizations. The Arthritis Foundation is hosting its first ever Oktoberfest celebration from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Old Main Street. Later in the evening, a benefit for Manatee Children’s Services is happening from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium, 1005 Barcarrota Blvd.

Fundraisers, yes. But with live music, food, chances to win cool prizes and – remember, this is the Bar Tab column, so we must mention this – plenty of beer, wine and liquor.

Oktoberfest is recreating a little bit of Germany in downtown Bradenton. The Oktoberfest tent on Fourth Avenue will be serving German food, pastries and beer from the historic Munich brewery Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu, now part of the Anheuser-Busch InBev conglomerate.

If German beer isn’t your thing, the Old Main Street bars and pubs will be selling their usual selection of everything.

Oktoberfest is free to attend and it will offer a few kid-friendly activities, like the Pittsburgh Pirates fast-pitch machine. But you’ll have to pay to play in the Texas Hold ‘Em tournament.

Entry fees are $75 for a seating at 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. But check out these prizes: Two tickets to Fenway Park, hotel and airfare; a trip to Chicago; a spa getaway in Biloxi; a golf outing; an Orlando-area package and more. Call Lee at (941) 708-3901 or Jason at 720-5071 to sign up.

An auction, vendors along the street, live music from the band Wild Ginger from 5:30 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.

At the north end of Old Main Street another party is brewing. A Country Night Dinner & Dance to raise money for Manatee Children’s Services is happening from 6:30 p.m.  to 11:30 p.m. in the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium, 1005 Barcarrota Blvd.

Tickets are $50 per person and include dinner catered by and dessert from Blondie’s Cookies. There will be several alcohol stations with beer, wine and mixed drinks that aren’t included in the entrance fee, so bring some spending money.

Other specials include a bull riding contest, line dancing with Jean Myers from , a silent and live auction, and vendors with “country-themed” products.

The grand prize of the raffle drawing is a brand new VW Jetta. They’re only selling 300 tickets for the raffle at $100 each.

Click here for more information or call 345-1200.

The band One Night Rodeo is performing with special guest appearances from country artist Billy Rice and bluesman and ex-NFL star Henry Lawrence.