Point Pleasant Beach Denies Permit For Oktoberfest

Point Pleasant Beach has denied a permit for the annual Oktoberfest that's held by the Elks, saying the event is too much for the town to handle on the same day as the Festival of the Sea.

Mayor Stephen Reid said he and the police chief met with the grandmaster of the Point Pleasant Elks, asking that the organization hold the event on another day. Reid said holding the two events on the same day – Sept. 15 this year – is too much for the town to handle.

Reid said the police department is spread too thin handling two of the biggest events the borough has each year, and on the same day. "Having another function going on just isn't working anymore," Reid said, citing safety concerns.

The Point Pleasant Elks, however, complained that they were denied the permit after holding the event for two decades. The organization said the move will "kill the Oktoberfest."

"Oktoberfest is the Point Pleasant Elks principal fund raiser and supports its charitable mission, including a mid-summer picnic for special needs children from around the state," according to a statement on the Elks Facebook page.

"The question is why did the municipality take this unprecedented action?" the statement read. "Have the mayor and council succumbed to the wishes of the Chamber of Commerce which has waged an on-again, off-again war with the Point Pleasant Elks over Oktoberfest for approximately 10 years?"

The Elks have asked people to "please show your support for the Point Pleasant Elks by attending the Point Pleasant Beach's June 19th Council meeting" and speak to the issue.

"Please be respectful and allow all parties to finish speaking before commenting. Please no foul language or profanities," the statement said.

Reid said people are welcome to attend the meeting to speak to the issue. He also said he and Point Beach officials are not trying to cancel the Oktoberfest now, or forever.

"We just can't have another function go on at the same time," he said. "I said pick another date, and we're giving you months ahead of time" to do so.

The Elks said they weren't buying the security concerns, saying they pay the borough to cover the cost of the police officers who are assigned to the Oktoberfest.

"So that should not be the issue," the organization said.

Point Pleasant Patch photo of the Festival of the Sea