Complete with German beer, pretzels and schnitzel, this year's Oktoberfest event will raise money for the purchase of a new kitchen at the LOEL Center. Oktoberfest Lodi! will be held on Sept. 26 at the American Legion Hall in Lodi. (Courtesy photograph)

Oktoberfest Lodi! event to raise money for LOEL Center kitchen

Press the wrinkles from your lederhosen and tune up the accordion, Oktoberfest Lodi! is only a week away.

This year's celebration, complete with German beer, pretzels and schnitzel, will help a good cause. All of the proceeds from the Sept. 26 event will go toward the purchase of a new kitchen at the LOEL Center. Organizers expect to earn at least $5,000 for a new kitchen, which will allow Meals on Wheels to continue feeding homebound seniors in Lodi, Woodbridge and Acampo.

The festivities will begin with the beer ceremony, in which Mayor JoAnne Mounce will tap the ceremonial first keg.

The Don Sommerfeld Band will perform traditional German music and Sacramento's Camtia Bavarian Dance Group, who have been together since the 1960s, will perform a variety of dances.

And, of course, you can't have an Oktoberfest celebration without the chicken dance.

"That's always a big one," said JoEllen Flemmer, a Lodi Tokay Rotary member who is organizing the event.

The stein-holding competition is one of the most popular games at Oktoberfest. People line up and hold full steins in front of themselves for as long as possible. Whoever can hold their arm out for the longest amount of time wins the game.

Don't forget about all of the great German food. People from Lodi will make German family recipes and guests will have a choice of bratwurst or German schnitzel. Wine, a variety of beer, soft drinks, Jagermeister and apple schnapps will also be available at the event.