Prost!
That’s German for cheers, and cheers there were in downtown Durango, as steins clinked, beer spilled and rain fell, people waltzed and later the sun even peeked out, warming an already-merry crowd celebrating Oktoberfest.
The Durango Bootleggers Society put on its 10th annual beer festival during the weekend, but instead of closing down Main Avenue as in years past, this celebration was in Buckley Park.
On Sunday, some sunshine greeted beer lovers as live polkas echoed under the trees. Some people even donned their lederhosen in celebration of German heritage.
Each year, the Bootleggers form a committee to choose a local organization as a beneficiary of festival profits. These year’s recipient was Local First, a nonprofit group that promotes locally owned independent businesses and helps raise awareness for them.
Festival organizer and marketing director at Ska Brewing Co., Kristen Muraro, said the park was perfect for the event, and rain or shine, folks came in droves.
“Now that the city has taken over management of the park, we thought it’d be a great opportunity to try it on the grass,” Muraro said. “Plus it helped us out financially a little bit. There were no fees to close down Main.”
The first question people ask, she said, is why Oktoberfest is in September.
“Traditionally, in Germany, it starts in September and goes into October, but with the weather in Colorado, it could be snowing in October,” Muraro said. Also, other annual events occur in the following weeks, so she said it was now or never.
The Bootleggers Society is a nonprofit group composed of the five local breweries: Ska Brewing Co., Durango Brewing Co., Steamworks Brewing Co., Carvers Brewing Co. and most recently, Brew Pub & Kitchen. The society initiates fundraisers and promotes supporting other local nonprofits, and Oktoberfest, Muraro said, is the society’s biggest event. Previous years the festival has supported the San Juans Citizens Alliance, the Women’s Resource Center and the Regional Housing Alliance, to name a few.
LeeAnn Vallegos is Local First’s managing director, and says Local First helps link the community with local business.
“It’s about raising awareness, about what they provide to our community in terms of quality, character and economy.”
She said, as beneficiary, Local First coordinates volunteers for the event. At a glance, Vallegos estimated as many as 1,500 people attended the festival Sunday, when sunny skies were more inviting than the previous day.
Despite Saturday’s rain, craft-beer enthusiasts grabbed their umbrellas and headed through the gates for beer, polka and bratwursts, said Jeff Albarella, Carver’s head brewer. No matter the turnout in the end, Albarella said the contribution to the beneficiary should be substantial.
“It’s always a good excuse to throw a party,” he said. “It will make a difference, whatever it is.”
Last year, Albarella said the Bootleggers wrote a check for $10,000 to the Regional Housing Alliance.
“Durango came down to support us, and we got to support the Housing Alliance.”
Steamworks co-founder Brain McEachron called the Bootlegger’s Society “truly unique.”
“We basically formed under a mission to promote nonprofits and lubricate good causes, and we do it all with a fun, family atmosphere and craft beer,” McEachron said.
Eric Maxsen and his wife, Lainie, own Brew Pub & Kitchen, Durango’s newest addition to local microbrew culture. It’s all about keeping it local, he said about choosing a beneficiary.
“It’s about finding that organization here, that helps all of us to be here,” he said. “We want to make some kind of impact, outside of just our business.”
Chad Carpenter and Mandi McKinley came from Bayfield during a break in the weather.
“This is how I like to make my donations,” Carpenter said. “We came to have a beer and enjoy the music before the next rain storm.”
While the historic event spans 16 days in Munich, Germany, it only lasts two days in Durango, which might be a good thing. Monday morning comes early.
Muraro said she was thrilled with the turnout, and the moody weather didn’t affect Durango fans.
“It changes all the time,” she said. “This is Colorado. It could be raining one minute and sunny the next. Durango is amazing,” she said. “They all come out for it. This is great.”
bmathis@durangoherald.com
