What’s it take to put on a party for more than 100,000? A whole lot of volunteers

Live performances, vendor booths, German food and a carnival are among the attractions expected to draw more than 120,000 people from throughout the metro area to Lee’s Summit’s this weekend.

Oktoberfest, hosted by the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce, wouldn’t exist without its approximately 400 volunteers.

“It truly takes a village to host a festival of this magnitude,” said Megan Gray, the Chamber’s director of special events. “We have an amazing group of people that work incredibly hard to make this event what it is, and I couldn’t be more grateful for each of them.”

Krissie Hutchins, owner of Seventh Wave Insurance, and Rachel Dyer, owner of Dyer Oil Graphics, are serving as co-chairs of the 2024 Oktoberfest Committee.

“Knowing this event is the biggest fundraiser of the year, along with my love of all things fall, led me to get more involved in the process of bringing Oktoberfest to Lee’s Summit each year,” Hutchins said. “It’s such a thrill to watch the event be so successful and know I had just a small part in making that happen.”

The longtime fan of Oktoberfest said her Chamber membership allowed her to become more involved in the event.

“I have really gained a sense of community and pride in building something bigger than myself,” Dyer said. “It’s amazing when everything comes together, and you can step back and say, ‘We did this!’”

Hutchins encourages other small business owners to become involved in the festival and support the Chamber’s largest fundraiser.

“Volunteering has allowed me to meet a new group of people each year and surround myself with other like-minded people,” she added. “I find joy helping Oktoberfest become such a success and have met many lifelong friends attending committee meetings and working the event.”

The community celebration will run from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free although attendees will have to pay for attractions such as the carnival and pony rides as well as food and beverages.

This year’s Oktoberfest includes a number of longtime favorites as well as some new events.

Returning attractions include the carnival; an arts and vendor fair with more than 120 booths; Kids Street; a stein hoisting contest; a Saturday morning wagon parade, which will have a fairytale theme; a petting zoo and pony rides; and German food offerings at the biergarten and brat tents.

Both the main stage and community stage are the place to visit for free, live entertainment beginning in the afternoons and running through nighttime on the festival’s first two days. Friday evening’s lineup for the main stage includes Paradise Kansas City, a Guns and Roses tribute band, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; and Crossroads Sounds, a party band, from 8 to 10 p.m. On the main stage on Saturday, the evening will feature Concrete Daisies, a band based in the Kansas City area, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; and the Jimmy Harris Band, performing country rock, from 8 to 10:30 p.m.

In addition, the biergarten includes a lineup of performers.

Attendees this year may notice several new options when it comes to beverages.

“We will showcase local craft beer at each tent, plus wine will be offered at several spots around the festival,” said Denise Elam, the Chamber’s director of marketing and communications. “This year we will also offer a craft cocktail called Bronson’s Original Punch. What we’re most excited about is offering a non-alcoholic beer option for those who prefer to abstain from drinking but still want to take part in the social aspects of the activity.”

Another addition to this year’s community celebration is the sale of Oktoberfest merchandise, including T-shirts and stickers.

“People in the area have been attending our festival for decades, with many volunteers saving their Oktoberfest-branded shirts each year,” Elam said. “So, we thought a great way to celebrate the pride many feel for the festival would be to offer unique custom-made designs that celebrate the rich history and fun the festival offers.

“We also re-branded our logo and designs to match a vintage, retro feel that hearkens back to the good old days of the early 2000s.”

For more information about the Chamber of Commerce’s Oktoberfest, go here. And go here for information about other Oktoberfests in the KC metro area.