CHESAPEAKE – Visitors to this year’s Chesapeake Octoberfest will find more than a few ways to celebrate the start of a new season.

Wednesday, October 04, 2000

CHESAPEAKE – Visitors to this year’s Chesapeake Octoberfest will find more than a few ways to celebrate the start of a new season.

The all-day event will be Oct. 14, beginning at 8:30 a.m. and will include entertainment, craft displays, contests and children’s activities at the Triangle Park in Chesapeake, festival chairman Dick Gilpin said.

"We will start the day with a 5K run," Gilpin said. "A variety of awards will be given out to the top winners in each age group and overall winners will receive cash awards."

An opening ceremony will begin at 9 a.m., he added.

"After the opening ceremony, the day will be filled with a variety of activities," he said. "We expect to have over 50 food booths featured all throughout the day."

He said a variety of foods will be available including hamburgers, hotdogs, beans and cornbread, Polish sausages and a variety of other sandwiches.

A fire parade is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. followed by live entertainment at noon, Gilpin said.

"The parade will involve many of the local fire departments," he said. "The Chesapeake High School band will also be marching in the parade. At noon, the Christ Temple Singers will take the stage."

He said other performances scheduled to take place during the day include the Kevin Rice band "Calliope," several Tri-State karate club appearances and a group of cloggers.

And festivalgoers will get the opportunity to ride on a horse-drawn wagon, he said.

"The horse-drawn wagon is always a popular attraction for people of all ages," he said. "Along with the food booths, there will be a variety of craft booths ranging from wooden toys and candles to lotions and wooden decorative crafts."

Admission to the event is free.