Oktoberfest’s 36th unfolds Wednesday with the official opening ceremony from 6-7 p.m. at the Festhalle Market Platz. Burgermeister Ben Harrison will lead the ceremony for festivities that will run through the weekend.

WEDNESDAY

Opening Ceremonies

8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Wolfgang Moritz – German Music

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – School Tours at the Cullman County Museum

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild Display at the Museum

10:30 a.m. – until – Freddie Day Catering – German Food

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Terri Pines Country Club German Lunch Buffet, reservation required / 256-739-0738 / $18

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz – German Music

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Sacred Heart German Dinner at the church / 256-734-3730 / Adults $12 Children $5 / Wolfgang Moritz

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Carriage Rides at Festhalle

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Alabama Craft Bier Garten

5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Hanceville High School German Band

6 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies; Burgermeister Induction / Miss Oktoberfest

6 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Children’s Activities at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

7:30 p.m. – Pickle Eating Contest (14 and under) at Festhalle

7 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express – German Music

8 p.m. – Best German Costume, Longest Beard / Braid Contest at Festhalle

9 p.m. – Stein Hoisting Contest at Festhalle

THURSDAY

7 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Farmer’s Market

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – School Tours at the Cullman County Museum

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild Display at the Museum

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Alabama Craft Bier Garten

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Senior Day

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express – German Music

10:30 a.m. – until – Freddie Day Catering – German Food

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Senior Day Lunch at Festhalle

Noon – 2 p.m. – Senior Day Bingo at Festhalle

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Alabama Craft Bier Garten

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Carriage Rides at Festhalle

6 p.m. – 9 p.m. – All Steak German Buffet Dinner / 256-734-4322 / $25

5:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. – Cullman Community Band with Gary Taylor

6 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Children’s Activities at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

7 p.m. – Candlelight Walking Tour beginning at Cullman Depot, 304 1st Ave. NE

7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

7:30 p.m. – Pickle Eating Contest (14 and under) at Festhalle

6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Terry Cavanagh & Alpine Express – German Music

8 p.m. – Best German Costume, Longest Beard / Braid Contest at Festhalle

9 p.m. – Stein Hoisting Contest at Festhalle

FRIDAY

10 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Arts & Crafts at Depot Park

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – School Tours at the Cullman County Museum

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild Display at the Museum

10:30 a.m. – until – Freddie Day Catering – German Food

11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Wolfgang Moritz – German Music

1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Josh and Judy Allison – Band

3 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Route 161 Happy Wanderers – Band

3:30 p.m. – Midnight – Alabama Craft Bier Garten

3 p.m. – 10 p.m.Kurt Heinecke

4 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Children’s Activities at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Christ Lutheran Church German Dinner at the church / 256-734-7056/Adults $12 / Children $5

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Cullman Oktoberfest Classic Car Show, 1st Ave. Warehouse District

5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Carriage Rides at Festhalle

6:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. – The BeatLads (Beatles cover band)

7 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

7:30 p.m. – Pickle Eating Contest at Festhalle

8 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Overtones – Band

8 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – Best German Costume, Longest Beard / Braid Contest

10 p.m. – 10:15 p.m. – Stein Hoisting Contest

10:15 p.m. – Midnight – Brandon Elder (American Idol Contestant from Arab, AL)

SATURDAY

7 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Farmer’s Market

8 a.m. – Oktoberfest 5K & 10K run (registration starts at 7 a.m.)

8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Arts & Crafts at Depot Park

8 a.m. – 10 p.m. – Children’s Activities at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

9 a.m. – 5 p.m.- Nimble Thimble Quilt Guild Display at the Museum

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Oktoberfest Junior Sidewalk Art Show in front of City Hall, prizes awarded

9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – K-9 For A Cause, Cullman Kiwanis Club at Depot Park (registration at 8 a.m.)

9 a.m. – 10 p.m. Carriage Rides at Festhalle

9 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Cullman East and West Elementary Singers/ Cullman Middle & High School Singers

10 a.m. – 7 p.m. – Sacred Heart Church Bingo/ Concessions sold / 256-734-4563

10 a.m. – Midnight – Alabama Craft Bier Garten

10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Wallace State Singers

11 a.m. – Noon – Wallace State Jazz Band

10:30 a.m. – until – Freddie Day Catering – German Food

Noon – 1 p.m. – Lions Club Bed Races at Depot Park

12:30 p.m. – Bratwurst Eating Contest at Festhalle

1 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Geoff Ryan & The Pragmatics – Band

2:45 p.m. – 3 p.m. – Paper Airplane Contest Finals at the Children’s Area Parking Lot

3 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Route 161 Happy Wanderers – Band

4 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Corn Hole Tournament at Goat Island Brewery sponsored by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church / Food Truck/ Amateur registration $30 a team / Professional registration $50 a team / Contact # 256-734-6580 / stpaulscullman.com

6:15 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Avenue G – Band

8 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. – Best German Costume, Longest Beard / Braid Contest

8:15 p.m. – 9:45 p.m. – Round 2 – Band

9:45 p.m. – 10 p.m. – Stein Hoisting Contest at Festalle

10 p.m. – Midnight – Fly By Radio – Band