Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel

It's already September; although our nice weather is here for a stay for awhile longer, The slight tinge of color on the trees, earlier twilight, etc. let us know fall is nearby.
One sign that fall's near for those of us in Oregon is Oktoberfest in Mt. Angel. We traveled to Mt. Angel yesterday. It's such a beautiful place, I have to tell you about it.

Mt. Angel, Oregon is located northeast of Salem about 15 miles. It is a quaint (yes!) little farming community. The nearby Mt.Angel Abbey is a beautiful place, with a spectular view of the Willamette Valley, the many fields, the hops fields ready for harvest, the foothills of the Cascades, and Mt. Hood towering above it all.

Back to the town of Mt. Angel. Mt. Angel was originally settled by Germans. They keep their ancestory in the forefront. Each September the whole town holds an Oktoberfest. Many charitable organizations are recepients of the receipts from beer gardens, food vendors, arts and craft vendors. There's "chicken dancing" in the streets, polka music coming from the loud speakers throughout downtown. Oktoberfest starts on Friday, and the town was getting ready for the thousands of visitors. All the yards were being manicured; flower boxes and pots of flowers are blooming at their best. The town's new glockenspiel shines in its central location. Even the public restrooms boast a new coat of paint!

We went to Mt. Angel to deliver some jewelry boxes to the Mt. Angel Woodcarvers Association gallery. This is a brand new gallery spearheaded by woodcarvers from nearby areas. Many of them are over 70! They have taken an old pizza location, cleaned it up, painted, added some tables and a few borrowed displays and added some beautiful products. They will be open for Oktoberfest. This is the arts community doing its best to bring the wooden items of the area to the public. They are planning for this to be a permanent gallery, with a coop selling team of gallery members. (The permanent part of this may be a challenge once Mt. Angel returns to it's normal qiet farming community.) With a wonderful weather forcast this weekend, the Grand Opening for The Mt.ANgel Woodcarvers Assn. Gallery should be great!