Children ride in the Westminster Church preschool float during last year's Oktoberfest parade in Evans City. This year's parade will start at 11 a.m. Saturday on Main Street in Evans City. Oktoberfest will run from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

EVANS CITY — The 2015 Evans City Oktoberfest is shaping up to once again provide affordable family fun for residents and visitors alike.

Marlene Domhoff, who has co-organized Oktoberfest for several years, said the event will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. With a few exceptions, all booths and events will be held on Wahl Avenue and South Jackson Street.

Domhoff said 50 to 60 craft and vendor booths will line Wahl and South Jackson, and carnival rides and games for children will be available on the southern end of South Jackson Street.

Handmade jewelry, Steelers items, bakery and fudge booths, hamburgers, hot dogs, hot sausage, french fries, homemade pierogies from the members of St. Mathias Church, and a host of other goodies and items will be available, Domhoff said.

A popular event at Oktoberfest, she said, is the quilt show at St. Peter Lutheran Church on Van Buren Street.

“Last year, we had more than 100 quilts,” Domhoff said.

Because of the number of quilts submitted for judging, some will be displayed in the Evans City Public Library as well.

Entertainment options

There is no shortage of entertainment at the family friendly event, as a wide variety of acts have been booked for the stage on South Jackson Street across from the fire hall.

The Millbillies, the Evans City Middle School band, Waldo Young, Daniels and McClain, Patches the Clown, a kid's tractor pull, the Evans City Senior Center's drum circle, and the Donnie Clark band are among the acts slated for the stage.

“Donnie Clark has a big following,” Domhoff said. “He's originally from Callery.”

She said a cupcake-eating contest sponsored by the Tin Man Sweets Bake Shoppe will be held for the second consecutive year. She said the event reminds her of the pie-eating contests of festivals in the past, but the cupcakes are much neater.

“The kids would throw the pie all over each other, and then run down the street and throw the pie in the crowd,” Domhoff recalled with a sigh.

Fans of breakfast can spend Saturday morning from 7 to 10 a.m. chowing down on all-you-can-eat pancakes at the fire hall.

Parade on Saturday

One of the most anticipated events during Oktoberfest is the parade, which will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday along Main Street. Parade lineup and judging begins at 10 a.m. on Jefferson Street.

Domhoff said participants will include Scout troops, Marburger Dairy trucks pulling calves on a trailer, the Syria Shrine “Road Rigs” mini-18 wheelers, horses, church floats, the Pittsburgh Mighty Penguins sled hockey team, antique cars, and the Syria Shriners Motor Corps motorcycles.

Domhoff said cash prizes, which are provided by NexTier bank, will be awarded to floats, marching or musical units, vehicles, equestrian groups, organizations and novelties. The prize amounts range from $10 to $75.

Sunday car cruise

A car cruise will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday on Main Street, which will be shut down for the event.

Wrapping up the three-day festival will be the traditional community church service, which is led by pastors from various churches in the borough.

Domhoff said she and the parade committee try to keep charges to vendors low so the Oktoberfest expenses can be covered.

“We're not trying to make a big profit,” Domhoff said, “We just want to keep it going.”

Participants compete in the cupcake-eating contest sponsored by the Tin Man Sweets Bake Shoppe during last year's Oktoberfest in Evans City. The sweet competition will return for its second year with weekend.