Oktobrewfest declared huge success

Main Street Thermopolis declared their second annual Oktobrewfest a huge success during its monthly meeting on Oct. 1.

The group, which was organized to improve the town’s historic district, said they raised almost $10,000 during the Sept. 23 event which featured local beers, music, games for children and adults alike, and brought tourists from as far as Billings and Greybull.

The group estimated that over 1,200 people attended, and noted that the 500 wristbands necessary for drinking were entirely sold out, along with special Oktobrewfest t-shirts. The special beer mugs offered by the group were also sold out at the end of the night.

Members of Main Street Thermopolis were proud to note that attendance was about twice as high as last year.

Shops up and down Broadway were packed during the event as well, which drew revenue to the town as a whole.

The event, which cost about $9,000 to put on, made over $18,000 for the group, half of which is a profit and will stay in the downtown district for future events. A total of $7,200 was made during last year’s event.

The group plans to expand the event next year, possibly looking for extra seating, a trailer or canopy for the bands, extended hours, and more drinker wristbands and shirts.

Among other business discussed at Thursday’s meeting was the Klink building ornaments, of which the group ordered 75 and are offering for sale. Seven have been bought so far, and the price of each was raised from $25 to $30 in order to recuperate all expenses from the design and purchase of said ornaments.

Main Street Thermopolis will also be joining the County Commissioner in purchasing Christmas ornament for the town. The organization hopes to put the ornaments around historic downtown Thermopolis.