Glendale Heights Oktoberfest Canceled Due To Coronavirus

GLENDALE HEIGHTS, IL — The 2020 Glendale Heights Oktoberfest has been canceled due to the ongoing new coronavirus crisis. The 11-day festival was slated to run from Sept. 10 through Sept. 20.

Festival organizers wrote in a press release that Glendale Heights Oktoberfest would have been almost logistically "impossible" under the current Restore Illinois guidelines. Organizers wrote, "Due to the logistics of the event, the handling of food, close gathering, and being in a semi-enclosed tent, organizers believe that it would be nearly impossible to host an event of this caliber and size."

Glendale Heights Oktoberfest Chairperson, Chef Wolfgang Beyer from Schnitzel Platz Restaurant, said in a statement, "My vision was to see a little piece of German culture and celebration make a home right here in Glendale Heights! Not being able to see the smiling faces and people dancing will be extremely difficult this year but I know we will have a triumphant return next year!”