There’s something about a small-town festival that just hits differently. The weather was about as perfect as you could ask for, the street was full of friendly faces, and Kim and I had ourselves a front-row seat to a pretty darn good Saturday in Bondurant.
We headed over to Reclaimed Rails Brewing for Oktoberfest, and this was exactly the kind of festival I love. Give me a smaller, newer event where you can actually talk to people, enjoy the music, and feel like you’re part of the party instead of getting lost in a sea of humanity.
A little polka goes a long way
The Schnitzel Brothers brought the polka, and they were a blast. Fun, interactive, family-friendly, and just the right kind of ridiculous to get people smiling and dancing. You don’t need a giant stage and a million people to have a fantastic time. Sometimes a band that knows how to work the crowd is more than enough.
And the Punching Pandas? Those guys are always worth catching. Between the horns, the Leslie speaker, and the pumpkin, you have to appreciate a local band that brings its own kind of wonderfully weird personality to the party.
Yes, there was dancing. And I’m pleased to report that we made it through the evening with no broken bones. That’s a successful night at our age! 🤣
Cold beer, good pizza, and a souvenir stein
The Reclaimed Rails beer was good, as expected. We came away with those plastic Oktoberfest steins, too. Are they authentic German glassware? Not even close. Do I still love having one as a little reminder of a great day? Absolutely.
The pizza was delicious, the vendors were friendly, and the hosts did a terrific job. We really enjoyed having our front-row seats for the festival. It was comfortable, welcoming, and personal from beginning to end.
More of this, please!
I love seeing communities put together events like this. It doesn’t have to be huge or fancy to be memorable. Beautiful weather, good music, a cold brew, something tasty to eat, and my favorite adventure partner right there with me. What more do you need?
10/10. Great job, Reclaimed Rails, the bands, the hosts, and everyone who helped make it happen. We’ll gladly do it again.
looks like a ton of fun!!