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Oktoberfest is toned down, but still celebrating

‘Little bit of everything’ at craft fair

Duy Tran of “Wonder Paper Art” sold eye-catching special pop-up greeting cards at the Oktoberest Craft and Vendor Show. The unfolded cards presented complex three-dimensional paper art of deer in a forest.

NEW ULM — COVID-19 may have canceled the traditional Oktoberfest celebrations, but events are continuing this week.

The annual Oktoberfest Craft & Vendor Show opened on 1st Street North between Broadway and Minnesota Street, Friday. This was the 5th annual Oktoberfest craft fair. James Haviland and Heather Ellanson have been organizing holiday craft fairs in New Ulm for the last five years. This is the third Oktoberfest vendor fair held on 1st North.

Haviland said the vendor fair will be open again Saturday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will return on Saturday, Oct. 10. Over 20 vendors are expected to attend. On Friday there was a wide variety of vendors. The “Blended Art” sold a mix of items including wood signs, seasonal kitchen towels and soaps.

“We do a little bit of everything,” owner Jaime Goehring said. This was Goehrings first time in the New Ulm craft market.

Another new attendee was Duy Tran’s “Wonder Paper Art.” Tran sold eye-catching special pop-up greeting cards. The unfolded cards presented complex three-dimensional paper art of everything from a flower to a fire breathing dragon. Tran said the flower and butterfly cards were the most popular.

Staff photo by Clay Schuldt The 5th Annual Oktoberfest Craft and Vendor Show brought out a variety of crafty people. Knitted by Nicole specializes in knitted stuff animals including dragons, Pokemon and Minions.

Masks continue to be a hot item at the vendor markets. Laura Suess at Posey Of Rosie has sold over a 1,000 masks on Etsy in a few months. She has become an expert on determining what size mask is correct for a face.

“I’ve become very accurate,” Suess said. Her masks are arranged by age group from two-years-old to adult.

The Oktoberfest craft fair will be open Saturday, but it will also be joined by the MakerFest Craft Fair hosted by the New Ulm Chamber of Commerce. Similar to the Crazy Days sales in late July, downtown Minnesota Street will be lined with vendors from Center Street to 3rd North.

With two separate craft and vendor events combined, downtown New Ulm could come close to resembling a traditional Oktoberfest.

Music is not be absent from this year’s Oktoberfest. Lamplighter and Best Western/Green Mill hosted live music Friday. The Lamplighter hosted Music with Chopper and Jeremy Poland Band played the Green Mill patio.

The music will continue Saturday. Lamplighter will host Anoid at the Machine from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m.

At Green Mill, Josh Norman will play on the patio from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Church of Cash will play in the ballroom from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3.

State Street Theater will host another “Music on the Steps” performance from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. As the event name suggests, the concert will be held on the theater’s front steps. The concert will feature Dick Kimmel & Kelly Coyle, Machiko, and The Donner Party.

The public is encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the free concert. Goodwill offerings are appreciated.

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