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Oktoberfest Coming to Hardwick Sunday

October 2, 2026

Farmhouse with Vass Farmstead sign on the front lawn. — The Vass Homestead, at 97 Stillwater Road, will be the site of Hardwick’s Oktoberfest Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Photo by Joe Phalon.

Oktoberfest is coming to Hardwick this Sunday at the Vass Homestead on Stillwater Road.

“The event is being made possible as a result of the generosity of area sponsors and the efforts of the Hardwick Oktoberfest Committee,” said John Lovell, a township committee member and an organizer of the event. “The committee has been working since early spring to line up 20-plus vendors who will be offering an assortment of special foods and crafts.”

While this Sunday’s fall celebration marks Hardwick’s first annual Oktoberfest, the event can trace its roots back many years in the form of Community Day, which has been held at the Vass Homestead for many years. But this year, the day will feature traditional Oktoberfest food and drinks.

“What would a traditional Oktoberfest be without beer, brats and wiener schnitzel?” said Lovell. “All on the menu at the Vass Farmstead.”

This inaugural event blends the spirit of traditional German festivities with the community’s rich heritage, said organizers.

The event will also feature a reptile house in the homestead barn, and activities for children from face painting to a bouncy house will be on hand.

This is a rain or shine event with tents, the Vass house and the barn providing cover.

“We are hoping for a big turnout from Hardwick and all of our neighbors,” said Lovell.

The Oktoberfest takes place Oct. 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the historic Vass Homestead, 97 Stillwater Road in Hardwick Township.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.