SPCA’s Tails in My Beer Oktoberfest

Winchester — The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Winchester-Frederick County is hoping there will be plenty of toasts to a bright new future at its upcoming Tails in My Beer Oktoberfest fundraiser.

The new event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Grove’s Winchester Harley-Davidson and will feature food, drinks, music and games, said Paul Frappollo, president of the SPCA board of directors.

More importantly for local rescued animals, the event will kick off a $2 million fundraising campaign to build a larger, updated facility to house them, he said.

“We definitely need all kinds of fundraisers, and we need a lot of support from the community to get this fundraising done,” said Frappollo of Berryville.

Tickets are $12 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Entry includes food, entertainment and games, but alcoholic beverages must be purchased separately.

Organizers want to bring awareness to the start of the campaign and provide a fun day out for families at the dealership at 140 Independence Drive, said Bunny Jackson, vice president of the SPCA. The event has activities aimed at children and adults.

In true Oktoberfest fashion, the menu for the event includes bratwurst, sauerkraut, German potato salad, German chocolate cake and nonalcoholic drinks prepared by Lou Lou’s Delicatessen in Clear Brook. Children will be served a hot dog, chips and drink.

Wine and beer will be for sale.

Events will fill the parking lot around the dealership, which is owned by Barbara Grove, who donated the use of her property, she said.

Music will be provided from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by Terry Oates & the Mudcats, a show band with traditional blues influences, followed from 2 to 4 p.m. by Stranger Danger, Jackson said.

“Both bands have a really good following,” she said.

When they arrive at the festival, people can register for a cornhole tournament, which will have cash prizes, Frappollo said. There also will be a Punkin Chunkin contest, in which participants “throw pumpkins and see how close they can get to the bulls eye.”

Children’s activities will include pumpkin and face painting and other games, he said.

There won’t be any animals at the event because it would be too chaotic for them, but people are always welcome to visit them seven days a week at the shelter, 115 Featherbed Lane, Frappollo said

The existing shelter is about 3,700 square feet, he said. The proposed structure, which will be built on the same land, will be about 7,4000 square feet.

Fundraising will not only have to be done for the building, but also to furnish it, hire extra staff to help care for the additional animals, and perhaps one day, hire a staff veterinarian, Jackson said.

“These are dreams that we have had, and we are working toward them,” she said.

Information

Tails in my Beer Oktoberfest will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Grove’s Winchester Harley-Davidson, 140 Independence Drive, Winchester. Tickets are $12 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. For more information, contact the SPCA at 540-662-8616.

— Contact Laura McFarland at lmcfarland@winchesterstar.com