It’s October and the leaves are changing, which means it is time for the Friends of Ironton’s annual Octoberfest.

“We’re promoting this as the biggest tailgate party in Ironton because we will have a bunch of TVs with pro and college games on,” said Rick Jansen, one of the founders of the Friends of Ironton. He added that last year about 800 people attended the event.

The event, which will be held on the Depot Square area on South Second Street in downtown Ironton, will feature German food, cornhole, music and activities for the kids on Saturday and Sunday. Events start at noon on Saturday and there is no charge to get in.

Ray Galla of Zanesville will kick the music off from noon until 3 p.m. Hall of Famer Hank Haller will perform from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. The Franz Klaber Orchestra will play from 7-11 p.m.

“There will be polka and a little yodeling, too,” Jansen said.

The International Folklanders dance group from Ashland, Ky., will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Sunday it goes from noon to 6 p.m. with Hank Haller will from noon until 3 p.m. and the Franz Klaber Orchestra will perform from 3-6 p.m.

Events for kids will include free face painting and a pumpkin painting contest.

“We are hoping to display the pumpkins in some of the empty store fronts around town,” said Jansen. “And we are going to have free inflatables for the kids too.”

On Sunday starting at 1 p.m. there will be a blind-draw cornhole tournament.

“People can register throughout the weekend for that,” Jansen said.

The students and faculty of St. Joseph High School will be preparing German food such as bratwurst for people, the University Women group will be having a book sale and there will be other vendors as well. And Jansen said the FOI of Ironton have been in contact with the sellers at the Farmer’s Market which sets up every Saturday by the Depot and told them they might want to bring more produce.