The very first "19th Annual Fremont Oktoberfest - in its First Year!" occurred October 6 - 8, 1989. It happened as part of a weekend full of activities featuring the Fremont Neighborhood Tour, an annual fundraiser dedicated, that year, to Ross Park. Ken Saunderson, who describes his role in the Fremont Chamber as "just a friend," organized our first beer garden that ran along the ship canal on a portion of the Burke-Gilman trail near where the dinosaur topiaries graze today. He also set up three live entertainment stages ("featuring the best in oompah music"), a carnival, food booths, contests, German crafts market and "other hoopla."

The "19th Annual Fremont Oktoberfest - Now in its Second Year!" occurred in 1990, with just as much fun and publicity. By this time, Jon and Candice Hegeman had brought us the world famous Fremont Sunday Market which extended the crafts booths and celebration farther up 34th Street. For the second year the event officially closed yachting season. Aboard a boat tied up in the ship canal, Mike Peck of the Fremont Yacht Club and Dave McDaniel of the Fauntleroy Cove Yacht Club traded flags.

Unfortunately, these festivities couldn't sustain themselves. Sponsorships dried up, Suzie Burke, who had helped Ken on the event, got called away on other issues and Ken moved in a different direction. He still plans events today if they interest him but "I don't need 'placing 100 san-i-cans' on my resume anymore," he joked.

Just Fade Away?

In Fremont we recognize a good idea when we have it - and those involving beer qualify. Perhaps that explains why Oktoberfest dreams continued to haunt us. In the fall of 1995, when the Tour de Fremont Bike Race zipped by the front of the Red Hook Brewery, Oktoberfest appeared listed on the calendar, but it never happened. By summer of 1997, the Board desperately wanted the event - and vowed to make it happen.

We may procrastinate in Fremont, but we can move with haste when push comes to shove. In this case, impetus came from a financial shortfall facing the Chamber treasury. As Fremont grew and thrived, our ambitions and plans also grew and cost. Technology came to the Chamber including a computer, fax, and e-mail. All of it needed funding and several Board members saw another Oktoberfest as just the ticket to pay for it all.

Phil Megenhardt had just returned to Seattle after exploring the world with his wife, Neave Karger-Megenhardt. Phil took a job at the Fremont Street Fair. In charge of sponsorships, both corporate and community, he met with the movers and shakers, Fremonsters and non. Through this grapevine, he heard about the Chamber's dilemma and how the Board had a date, a name and eight weeks to pull it together - without an idea how. Phil had an idea but Neave, exhausted from working on a farm all day, told him, "get rid of it".

Never Say Die - Or No

Still, she supported him. Phil created connections and got everyone around him excited and involved. Neave took care of the details. As Bold Hat Productions, they've resurrected the Oktoberfest. While they've grown their family - their second Oktoberfest took place one month after their son was born and their daughter arrived one week before their fourth - they've also grown the Fremont Oktoberfest into a watershed event.

With their continual efforts to expand, they've added a 3 mile Brew Ha-Ha Run in 2003 and an Urban Carnival in 2005. At its heart sits the beer garden, and around that grows the craft market, kids' area and live entertainment venues. Of course, there is no room for improvement on the spectacularly singular Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving.

The Chamber uses the funds raised to help art groups, schools, other events and community promotion. They donate to the Fremont Library, History House, the Wallingford Boys & Girls Club and the Outdoor Movies. They facilitate Trick-or-Treat and the Lenin Lighting.

Rain or shine, Oktoberfest happens thanks to Phil and Neave and numerous volunteers who help them bring it to reality each fall. Thanks to Oktoberfest, our neighborhood and our Chamber of Commerce can continue to thrive through the rest of the year.

September 2005