The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

Local News

November 30, 2011

It's back: Bavarian Fun Fest being revived

QS&L reviving iconic event to mark 40th

By Michael Roknick Herald Business Editor

SHARON — Break out the lederhosen and dust off the Tyrolean hat. The Bavarian Fun Fest is coming back.

Quaker Steak & Lube announced Tuesday it’s bringing back the fabled festival to its downtown Sharon location after a 20-year hiatus. The old world style celebration – with some American touches – will welcome crowds over a long weekend from Aug. 2 through 5.

The Fun Fest’s return is to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the restaurant company, which began with Old Express Ltd.

 At its height in the mid-’80s and early ’90s, the Fun Fest attracted nearly 100,000 people and was rated Pennsylvania’s No. 1 festival by the Pennsylvania Festival Association.

The Oktoberfest-type summer festival brought about 5 million tourist dollars into Mercer County, according to the Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The last Fun Fest was held in 1992, when Quaker Steak officials said it had gotten too big to handle.

Naming rights for the festival were sold to other organizations and it was staged elsewhere. However, the festival never caught on at those locations and eventually fizzled.

Quaker Steak officials promise hundreds of musicians will participate in the resurrected outdoor event. Polka bands and oom-pah-pah orchestras will be joined by Tamburitzans, dance bands and performers of blues and rock.

In all, about 600 performers will entertain visitors under tents at the Quaker Steak complex along Connelly Boulevard.

Renowned for its food, the Fun Fest will feature zesty German wurst, open pit beef and chicken barbecue, Bavarian strudel and the like, along with plenty of beer.

Community organizations will be invited to sell their food specialties  such as handmade pirogi, stuffed cabbage and haluski.

The agenda also includes horse and wagon rides for children and local crafters and artisans who will demonstrate their skills and sell their wares.

Quaker Steak’s news release didn’t say whether the event would continue beyond 2012.

Plans are for the Fun Fest to open at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at noon on Saturday and Sunday, with the fest grounds staying open until midnight each day.

Admission fees haven’t been announced, although Quaker Steak said reduced price, multi-day passes will be available.

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