Slippery Rock is having its second annual Oktoberfest, which will feature 15 breweries and local business vendors at the Slippery Rock Community Park.

Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo is planning Oktoberfest, and said that although it pays tribute to a German festival notable for its beer, the borough's version of the event is intended to be a family affair.

“Every event that I put on I try to make sure it's family friendly,” Longo said. “We will not only have food vendors and distilleries, but small business owners and charities and nonprofits from the area.”

According to Longo, the first event was started as an effort to give vendors a setting where they could do business and make money through sales while their facilities were running under coronavirus mandates.

“The service industry was hit pretty hard because state regulations put in place for COVID,” Longo said. “I planned to have an outside venue where craft and food vendors could find a way to conduct commerce, and where citizens could share in some kind of camaraderie and togetherness after they had been locked in their houses for what seemed like forever.”

This year's fest will have six alcohol vendors, and tentatively about 10 other businesses and nonprofits present; a few less than last year, Longo said. Some of the local agencies include the Slippery Rock Volunteer Company, baseball association, community library, Lions Club and Rotary Club. Longo said the vendor-paid fees will benefit Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation and local nonprofits.

A live band is scheduled to perform, and a Pittsburgh podcast called “Ya Jagoff” will record live from the fest. Longo also said a highlight will be a performance by German-style singing group Eintracht Maennerchor and a performance by the German-style dance troop D'Lustigen Isartaler.

About 500 people attended the first Oktoberfest last year. Longo said people mainly came from around western Pennsylvania and eastern Ohio.

He has high hopes for the attendance this year as well.

“I am expecting just as many this year,” Longo said. “What I love about craft beer and winery culture is it always provides a family-friendly environment.”

Longo also said he took the German roots of Oktoberfest into account when planning it.

“I want to make sure Americans of German descent are celebrated too,” Longo said.

Oktoberfest is noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 2 at Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation.