Staff photos by Fritz Busch The Narren and other festgoers do a snake dance at Oktoberfest at the Best Western Plus, 2101 S. Broadway Friday night. Events continue today with the German-American Day Parade at 11 a.m. downtown. Music by the Bockfest Boys follows at 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Church and Cash performs on the Center Street stage 2 to 5 p.m. Festivities at the Best Western start up again at 2 p.m.

NEW ULM — Merrymakers got underway in earnest Friday night as The Concord Singers and The Narren sang and danced to the delight of Oktoberfesters at the Best Western Plus.

That’s just the star of the fun. Events get underway at 11 a.m. Saturday with the German-American Day Parade starting on Minnesota Street, near the Glockenspiel, finishing at the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center on Center Street. Parade-goers are reminded to get free hot shots of sauerkraut from parade participants.

The Bockfest Boys will sing on the Center Street Stage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by The Church of Cash (true to the music of Johnny Cash) led by New Ulm native Jay Kalk from 2 to 5 p.m. A craft and vendor show on First North between Minnesota Street and Broadway takes place at 11 a.m.

At the same time, Morgan Creek Vineyard will host its 20th annual Grape Stomp from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Teams of three to five stompers pre vat will compete in 10 vats. The team producing the largest volume of juice will win a free case of wine. Grape stomps begin at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

In addition, each member of the team winning the best concept-and-costume design receives a bottle of seasonal desert wine. Costumes are not required, but it’s a lot more fun.

Meanwhile, from noon to 5 p.m., the lush sights and sounds of Bavarian guest musicians Oachkazlschwoarf; the Minnesota Morris Dancers (men’s folk dance team) of The Minnesota Renaissance Festival; the Satori Violet Belly Dancers of Mankato; and those Black Forest masked visitors, The New Ulm Narren, will dance.

The Concord Singers will perform at the Best Western Plus at 2 p.m. Josh Norman German music follows at 3:15 p.m. The Concord Singers are back on stage at 6:45 p.m. followed by The Bockfest Boys at 8:30 pm.

Cold-Blooded Whiskey will perform in a tent in the Green Mill parking lot at 5 p.m. Hicktown Mafia follows at 8:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Schell’s Brewery tours continue at noon.

The second weekend of Oktoberfest continues at 5 p.m., Friday, Oct. 12 at the Best Western/Green Mill with the Concord Singers kicking off the music. Schell’s Hobo Band will perform at 6:15 p.m., The Concord Singers at 8 p.m., followed by Alpensterne at 9 p.m.

The Johnny Holm Band will perform in the Green Mill parking lot at 7 p.m. Oct. 13.

Next Saturday, a second Oktoberfest parade with a costume theme begins at 11 a.m. Rich and the Resistors will perform on the Center Street stage at 11 a.m. The Switch Road Band plays at 2 p.m.

At 10:30 a.m., Oct. 13, the annual Schell’s Brewery Oktoberfest begins. A fest keg will be tapped at 11 a.m. The Schell’s Hobo Band will perform at 11 a.m. followed by Alpensterne at 1:30 p.m.

At the Best Western, The Concord Singers will play at 2 p.m., followed by the Bockfest boys at 3:15 p.m. The Concord Singers return to the stage at 6:30 p.m., followed by The Wendinger Band at 8 p.m.

Powerhouse, a 10-piece band will perform classic rock, rhythm and blues, swing, soul, disco and adult contemporary music from the 40’s through today from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the Rocktoberfest tent in the Green Mill parking lot.

fbusch@nujournal.com