Live Polka
I have now lived in Prescott long enough to compare this year’s Oktoberfest with previous celebrations. The move from dedicating one block on Gurley Street to the Mile High Middle School field was a good one by providing more space for vendors and participants. Returning to a one day event from last year’s two days was a smart one as church takes precedent in Prescott on Sundays. The number of vendors has steadily increased to offer 60 beers in the 2017 edition. In my opinion, however, the cost and number of samples has now gone too far. I can remember when a ticket was $15 for 6 samples (and those samples were small). Last year a ticket cost $20 for 8 samples. This year an online ticket was $25 but $35 at the door for 12 samples (and those samples were generous). This is too much of a good thing as I got drunk on 9 samples from the following vendors: Barrio, Goose Island, Granite Mountain, Hangar 24, Lumberyard, Mother Road, Mudshark, Rogue, and Spaten. Fortunately, we walked so I wasn’t a danger on the road. In an effort to soak up some of the alcohol, we shared a pretzel to support the cause and devoured fry bread from White Eyes Fry Bread. My wife enjoyed the variety of Hefenweizen style brews offered. We found a table partially in the sun and partially in the shade that satisfied both of us as we enjoyed listening to Live Polka. We met some interesting people during the course of the afternoon. One couple live in the Valley but have a cabin in the Prescott area. Another couple moved here a month ago from New York. Two brothers active in the Sister Cities program shared some information about our relationships with Caborca, Mexico; Suchitoto, El Salvador; and Zeitz, Germany. Although this year’s event was held in September, it was a successful Oktoberfest!
On Friday, we identified the following wildflowers around the Thumb Butte parking lot and Thumb Butte Bypass Trail #326: redroot buckwheat, mountain parsley, yellow-flowered evening primrose, common mullein, tufted four o’clock, wild geranium, littleleaf globemallow, oblong, mock pennyroyal, scruffy prairie clover, slimleaf lima bean, skyrocket gilia, Arizona thistle, white prairie aster, Arizona cudweed, spreading fleabane, western yarrow, fragrant snakeroot, silver puffs, broom snakeweed, wild chrysanthemum, annual goldeneye, Wright beeflower, tansy aster, camphorweed, and large-flowered brickellia.
