Canonsburg turns out for Oktoberfest
Thousands of attendees from across the region traveled to Canonsburg for three days of Bavarian-flavored fun this weekend.
The Greater Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce hosted the 28th annual Pennsylvania Bavarian Oktoberfest starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, with dozens of local vendors, musical acts and of course, plenty of quality beer.
According to Canonsburg Borough Council President Eric Chandler, the event has a huge economic impact for businesses in town.
“I couldn’t even put a number on it,” he said.
Chandler estimated that between 10,000 to 20,000 people attend the three-days of festivities each year, sometimes doubling the borough’s usual population of around 10,000.
This contributes to a surge of spending that sustains ongoing economic development in Canonsburg.
Many people that grew up in the area but later moved away plan an annual pilgrimage back to Canonsburg around the Oktoberfest event, Chandler said, making it an informal community reunion.
Greater Canonsburg Chamber of Commerce President Greg Sulc said that support the community shows for the event is “unbelievable.”
Sulc said that the festival began in the late 1990s as a small, one day affair that grew over time into the premier regional attraction it is today.
‘It’s been a huge effort between our partners,” Sulc said.
Jordyn Manion, the owner of Baubles & Lace Mercantile on Pike Street, said that setting up a stall to sell her crafty, fall-themed home decor is always an enjoyable experience.
“Everyone here is having fun, usually they have a pretzel in one hand and a beer in the other,” she said.