Local Oktoberfest Celebrates Community & Benefits Environmental Education
Accokeek, MD – The Alice Ferguson Foundation opened its doors Saturday, October 8 for its 34th annual Oktoberfest at the Hard Bargain Farm Environmental Center in Accokeek, Maryland. One of the area’s most popular fall activities, this year’s Oktoberfest featured high-spirited, authentic performances of dances from Bavaria and Austria, traditional Alpine music, delicious German food, hay wagon rides to the Potomac River, door prizes, barnyard animals and the beautiful autumn landscape of the 330-acre farm.
“The fall harvest season is always a great opportunity to connect our community back to the bounty of nature and the importance of protecting and preserving nature and our farmlands,” said Alice Ferguson Foundation Executive Director Lori Arguelles.
In keeping with the Alice Ferguson Foundation’s commitment to innovation in the environmental field, this year’s Oktoberfest took place on the lawn of the recently completed environmental education center, the first net zero “Living Building Challenge” structure in Maryland and one of a handful of such buildings in the United States. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about this groundbreaking structure, which meets the strictest ecofriendly building standards in the world, while enjoying the festival events, featured displays and homemade baked delicacies at the country store.
“Not only is this day an opportunity to bring everyone together, but the proceeds from our annual Oktoberfest festivities all go towards our great environmental education programs,” said Arguelles. “Each year, we are proud and honored to provide hands-on, experiential learning to thousands of students throughout the Potomac Watershed.”
The Washington, D.C.-based Bavarian dance group Alt Washingtonia Schuhplattlers performed traditional dances and offered lively singalongs throughout the day. Children and the young-at-heart had the opportunity to meet and learn about the farm’s barnyard animals, squeeze apple cider with an old-fashioned cider press, and make their own unique crafts in the Foundation’s historic cabin.