Eyewitness News Photo
Reported by: Gilbert Corsey
Videographer: Troy Morgan
Web Producer: Gilbert Corsey
Reported: Oct. 3, 2009 11:09 PM EST
Take a traditional German festival and throw in some West Virginia flare and there you have Oktoberwest.
The street festival took place on Bigley Avenue on Charleston’s west side Saturday Afternoon. Roughly 900 people attended and the proceeds will help support the West Side Main Street Project. Organizer, Julia Moran said, ” It’s a revitalization project promoting the businesses and community in this part of Charleston.
While this festival promoting the side was taking place a few block away someone was promoting the areas negative stereotypes. Police responded to a drive by shooting at the advanced Auto Parts on Virginia Street. Whiteness said all partied ran away before officers arrived.
Moran said, ” It’s a shame. My heart goes out to the victims everytime. You think about hard working people in this community being afraid. We’re standing up to that. We won’t stand for that in our neighborhood. We love Charleston.”
EyeWitness News
Share on Facebook
Charleston Daily Mail
by From staff reports
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Come and enjoy a taste of OktoberFest on Charleston’s very own West Side this weekend.
West Side Main Street, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is putting on OktoberWest.
The fundraiser – dubbed the area’s largest community event of the year – is being held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Bigley Avenue and West Washington Street.
“We’re closing the street down and turning it into a beer garden,” said Julia Moran, OktoberWest event organizer.
The cost is $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event. A limited number of advance tickets remain. To purchase them, visit the program’s Web site, http://www.westsidemainstreet.org/.
Moran, who also serves as the president of West Side Main Street, said there will be a set number of tickets available for purchase at Saturday’s event.
“The goal is basically to run out of tickets,” she said.
The fundraiser, sponsored by First Bank, will feature Sam Adams and Miller Lite beer, plenty of bratwurst, a cornhole tournament, a traditional German band and children’s activities, including a bounce house and face painting.
“It’s a real family, community event,” Moran said.
Last year, the event attracted close to 600 people. This year, organizers are expecting 900.
Children under 18 are free with their parents’ paid admission.
Also during the day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be an OktoberWest for kids. Children will be transported to various free activities, including a pumpkin painting party and cornhole tournament, via KRT trolley.
According to its mission statement, Charleston West Side Main Street is dedicated to the revitalization of West Side business corridor and envisions a vibrant commercial district with a proud heritage and warm community spirit in the heart of the city.
Share on Facebook
