One of Corbin’s fastest-growing events is getting even bigger in 2024 as the Annual Oktoberfest Festival is once again partnering with the Cumberland Valley Cruise-In to present a day full of fall fun for visitors of all ages.
Last week, Downtown Coordinator Jacob Roan, Tourism Director Nancy Conley and Tourism Assistant Emily Roberts met with Cruise-In organizer Chris McQueen, Corbin Police Chief Rusty Hedrick and representatives from the city’s Public Works Department to discuss the logistics of this year’s Oktoberfest celebration. For Roan and Conley, this marks the first time that they will be tasked with leading the charge when it comes to the planning for this particular event.
“From a tourism perspective, we are excited to see the turnout for the event and see the impact that it will have on the community,” Conley said. “We know that it has been a successful event for the past few years. With that growth, and some changes for this year, we expect to see a lot more impact for the local businesses.”
Elaborating on a couple of those changes, Roan explained, “We are adding a beer garden and a cornhole tournament, which will be located over at Sanders Park. The kid and family-friendly attractions will be near Nibroc Park, and we will have artisans and crafters set up in the farmer’s market pavilion.”
Roan said that he would like to see the festival move towards becoming a true Oktoberfest-style event in the future, complete with all of the “German flair.” If that were to happen, he said that the city may see two separate fall events, one geared more towards adults and the other keeping the focus on kids and families.
“Oktoberfest has grown so much, I think there is room for two separate festivals,” Roan said.
For now, Roan, Conley and Roberts are all happy to see Oktoberfest proceed as it has in previous years, with the addition of a few new offerings.
First and foremost, Roan said that his top priority is ensuring that the downtown businesses are in a position to benefit from the increase in foot traffic, saying, “It is Corbin businesses first, and then the vendors and everyone else who is coming in. Everything that we do, we want it to positively impact the businesses downtown.”
Roan said that he has spoken to many of the downtown Corbin business owners concerning Oktoberfest, and that several are planning to be open the day of the festival so that they can offer patrons special promotions on food and/or merchandise.
In addition to the deals being offered by downtown businesses, festival goers will also have the opportunity to shop for specialty craft items, clothing, fashion accessories, food, toys and more at the vendor booths that will be located between Gordon Street and Nibroc Park. From Nibroc Park to 5th Street, visitors will be able to look at the muscle cars and other classic vehicles on display as part of the final Cumberland Valley Cruise-In of the 2024 season.
The Elk’s Lodge will be serving beer at the beer garden in Sanders Park Saturday, and they are also presenting the cornhole tournament in conjunction with the City of Corbin and the Corbin Tourism Commission. Teams wishing to participate in the tournament can sign up now through 5 p.m. Friday at the Princess Vermillion McBurney Recreation Center, located on Barbourville Street in Corbin. The cost is $20 per team, and winners of the tournament will receive half of the money raised, with the other half being donated by the Elk’s Lodge to the local Shop With a Cop program.
The Cumberland Valley Cruise-In also has plans to raise funds for Shop With a Cop during Saturday’s car show.
All of this, plus returning popular attractions such as hayrides, a petting zoo, inflatables, pumpkin painting and more will get underway this Saturday at 10 a.m. in downtown Corbin.
“When I think about Oktoberfest, I think of it as an opportunity to provide a quality of life event for our community,” said Roberts. “Festivals are just fun, and we want the community to come out and have fun together.”
For additional information on this year’s Oktoberfest Festival, visit the official Facebook pages for Downtown Corbin and the Corbin Tourism and Convention Commission.
