OLDS — Oldstoberfest organizer Gillian Grant says the annual Bavarian-themed rodeo week was a success, despite some changes forced by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Events took place from Sept. 23-26. The theme was Can’t Stop The Bavarian Spirit.
One huge change was there was no rodeo this year.
However, Grant, who works for C5 Rodeo, made the best of it in several ways with help from others.
The week was kicked off on Sept. 23 with the annual tapping of the keg outside the Pomeroy Inn & Suites. The hotel was a major sponsor.
A community business scavenger hunt was also held. Participants could win an ultimate Oldstoberfest prize package.
The week wound up with the annual pancake breakfast at the Olds Regional Exhibition grounds.
However, this year it was done differently. It was a drive-through breakfast instead of the traditional sit-down affair.
Meals in the field were also offered, with help from Ritchie Brothers. And some books were donated to the library.
Grant was pleased with how well all the events went.
“We were just really appreciative of all the different businesses and our partners who stepped up to get involved,” she said.
“It was really cool to see the community come together this way. It was a really neat thing to see, for sure.”
She said next year, depending on what happens with COVID, the pancake breakfast might revert back to a sit-down affair, or be a drive-through event again -- or even some combination of both.
She was really impressed with how smoothly it went.
“It was awesome. There was no panic ever. Everyone just did what they needed to do; it was so easy,” she said.
“You know, when it goes like that, it makes it really fun for everyone and it makes them want to continue to do stuff like that, so like I said, it was a big win for us.”
She said that applies to the week as a whole.
“It was really neat, because obviously we couldn’t do Oldstoberfest this year, but to see the community come out and support us and get involved was just really amazing and show just how a great community Olds is.”
