It’s Sauerkraut and Cyberspace at Oktoberfest

Feasting on sausage, sauerkraut and ale, revelers celebrated medieval cuisine--and some modern themes too--at the Ventura County Oktoberfest on Sunday.

While a brass band in lederhosen played oom-pah-pah music, representatives from GTE pitched the telecommunications giant’s online Yellow Pages service in a van filled with computers. And along with an assortment of dark and light ales, thirsty revelers could opt for a cup of mocha latte or bottled mineral water.

Meanwhile, a flea market at the event offered blankets, jewelry, Christmas ornaments and sundresses for sale. The crowd on hand was just as diverse, from wealthy retirees who arrived in BMWs to scruffy leather-clad motorcyclists.

Despite the eclecticism, however, organizers and a few festival-goers were a bit disappointed by the lower-than-anticipated attendance. The two-day event drew about 4,500 people, with 2,500 coming on Sunday.

“The food was good,” said Keith Rose of Oak View after a heavy round of sauerkraut, beer and knockwurst. “But it was a little slow.”

Indeed, the festival was less the raucous type of fall party traditionally associated with Oktoberfest and more a laid-back day in the park. Parents of toddlers pushed strollers along the shoreline, while young couples spread blankets and caught some warm rays of sun and listened to the band.

Dick Wixon, a Thousand Oaks contractor who organized the Oktoberfest, said he does not expect to turn a profit on the event--despite prices of $3 for a beer and about $5 for a single sausage with sauerkraut and potato salad.

Wixon, who has arranged many “living history” events, such as Civil War reenactments, throughout the county, said he hopes to turn Oktoberfest into an annual county affair. This year was a trial run.

“It’s a chance to get out in the open in a party atmosphere. People won’t be outside as much now,” Wixon said. “It’s about getting ready for the harvest and winter.”

Ventura College student Jason Arnold went to the Oktoberfest both days, enduring Santa Ana winds Saturday and basking in near perfect weather Sunday. He said Lake Casitas was a good choice for the party site.

“It’s a nice country setting,” he said. “It gets you out of the muss of the city.”