Polka, pretzels and a nail-driving contest are coming to Ashland Avenue.
Double Clutch Brewing Company hosts its fourth annual Clutch-tober Fest on Saturday, Sept. 12, a free, all-day Oktoberfest celebration at the brewery's Bier Hall at 2121 Ashland Ave., according to the event listing on Patch. Doors open at 11 a.m.
The event falls weeks before the brewery marks its fifth anniversary in October. Double Clutch opened in Evanston in 2021.
What to expect
The day starts family-friendly. Mary Macaroni & The Impastas perform sing-along songs and make balloon animals from 11 a.m. to noon, geared toward kids ages 1 to 8.
At 1 p.m., Keith Stras & The Polka Confetti take the stage. Stras, an International Polka Association Hall of Fame inductee with more than 50 years in the music industry, is a regular emcee on the nationally televised Jimmy Sturr Show and hosts programs on WPNA 1490 AM and Sirius XM, according to the band's booking page.
The 3 p.m. hour belongs to the Feats of Strength: a pretzel-eating contest, a stein-hoisting competition and Hammerschlagen, a traditional German game where players drive a nail into a log using the flat side of a hatchet.
Closing out the night at 5 p.m. are the Polkaholics, a Chicago trio that fuses traditional polka with rock 'n' roll. Guitarist "Dandy Don" Hedeker founded the band in 1997 by blending the polka standards of Chicago polka king Lil' Wally with the punk-rock style of Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls, according to Bass/Schuler Entertainment.
Steins and details
Collectible 1-liter Clutch-tober Fest steins cost $20, with $10 refills throughout the day. German beer and classic German fare will be available in the Bier Hall. Lederhosen and dirndls are encouraged.
The event listing was posted by Kate Ahern of Vandalay Brands, the Chicago-based hospitality group that owns Double Clutch. Head brewer Scott Frank and Vandalay partner Mike Chookaszian have built the brewery into a multiple award winner at national and international beer competitions since its 2021 opening, according to Illinois Brewing.
Clutch-tober Fest is free. No registration is required.
