Sprankle's Octoberfest on tap Friday through Sunday at Lernerville Speedway

For the first and possibly only time, Lernerville Speedway in Buffalo Township has transformed into a miniature Munich ahead of the sixth annual Sprankle’s Octoberfest.

Organizers expect this iteration of the German-themed festival on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to be bigger and better than ever.

“The whole aim of this is to imitate the real one in Munich,” said Bela Petar, director of events and community outreach at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Markets. “Of course, they have tents that seat 5,000 people, but we’re getting there.”

Sprankle’s Octoberfest started in 2019 at Lingrow Farm in Gilpin. In 2020, the company held it at their store in Saxonburg, before using the grounds of the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Department in subsequent years.

But the festival outgrew the fire department grounds. Doug Sprankle, owner and founder of Sprankle’s Saxonburg store, described the site last year as “maxed out.”

That’s why the grocer eyed a permanent home for the gathering at a 40-acre former farm that straddles Winfield, Buffalo, Jefferson and Clinton townships, known as Sprankle Woods Farm.

According to Sprankle, disagreements with Jefferson forced organizers to go with plan B at Lernerville, at least this year. The usable space by the speedway is about 12 acres — more than double the fire hall grounds.

Set up took about three weeks and a mix of 30 volunteers, contractors and Sprankle’s employees.

Sprankle expects this year to draw as many, if not more, visitors. Using a service called PlacerAI, which tracks foot traffic through cellphone data, he learned about 30,000 people attended last year, representing approximately 40% of the activity in Saxonburg for the entire year.

This year, for $10 a day, payable online or at the gate, visitors can enjoy live polka music, dachshund races and other staples of the real deal in Germany. There will be more than 125 vendors, counting about 30 food and drink stands serving, among other things, beer, pretzels and bratwurst.

Hotel Saxonburg is sponsoring a bourbon bar under the 300-foot-long main tent.

Other attractions include a magic act, car show, reptile display, corn hole tournament and an armed forces memorial ceremony. In the event’s final hours, the winner of Saturday’s stein-holding contest will face off with Sunday’s victor for a chance to compete in the state championship Oct. 12 at SteelStacks Oktoberfest in Bethlehem.

Attendees can purchase ornaments to place on a wishing tree, with the proceeds going toward the Saxonburg Museum’s efforts to restore a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge, designed and built by the borough’s German-American founder, John Roebling.

A polka Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday in honor of Corey Comperatore, the Buffalo Township man who was shot and killed at a nearby rally for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in July.

Parking is free and abundant. The site had been used as overflow parking in past years.

And it’s profitable for vendors.

Last year, nonprofits as well as high school sports and clubs walked away with $100,000, Sprankle said.

Vendors sold about 1,600 pretzels. The target this year is 2,000.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about trying to support the local economy,” Sprankle said. “If I wanted to make money, I’d buy another grocery store.”

Petar, a frequent flier to Germany who is active in GTEV D’Lustigen Isartaler, a Bavarian and Austrian club in Millvale, knows not everyone is as invested in their German heritage as he is. Heck, many people who show up the next three days might not have a drop of German blood in them.

That’s not a problem for Petar.

“Everyone can be German for the three days we’re here,” Petar said.

Sprankle’s Octoberfest will take place from 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. A full schedule is available online at spranklesoctoberfest.com.