Ottumwa’s Oktoberfest celebration officially starts Wednesday. Thanks to the Ottumwa Rotary Club, however, the week-long fest kicks off today with the annual Rotary chicken barbecue held in the Oktoberfest tent.

It’s a great way to start off October and autumn as the aroma of barbecued chicken will fill the downtown area today, and Wednesday through Saturday, brats on the grill.

Oktoberfest is a fun festival, one which got its start 34 years ago as a way to celebrate our German heritage and continue the celebration recognizing the role the meat packing industry has had in Ottumwa’s history. Years ago, John Morrell & Co. held a Hot Dog Days for Ottumwans.

Now, it’s brats and beverages served daily in the striped tent put up Monday in the Market Street parking lot. It’s free admission into the tent, where you can purchase sandwiches and a variety of beverages and listen to bands performing each night through Saturday night. Other vendors set up nearby, and carnival rides for the kids will be behind the tent.

It’s a big week for Ottumwa as Ottumwa High School celebrates its Homecoming Week as does Indian Hills Community College.

The OHS Homecoming Parade will be downtown early Thursday night, ending at Central Park where the king and queen will be crowned. The kids will then gather at the school “pit” area for the traditional pep rally and bonfire.

Early Friday night is the popular Oktoberfest Kiddie Parade held downtown this year due to street work on Church Street. The kids all look great in their Halloween costumes and each one will receive some candy.

The big Oktoberfest Parade begins downtown at 10 a.m. Saturday and features more than 300 entries, including a lot of area bands which create excitement for parade watchers.

A variety of other activities are planned, so check the schedule daily in the Courier.

As Oktoberfest committee chairman Jack Guiter says, “It’s really a community-based event.” That’s true as many OHS and IHCC alumni return for homecoming and others just come back for the fun of a city-wide celebration.

Guiter estimates that about 10,000 people will attend this week’s celebration, which not only is good for Ottumwa’s economy, but it’s a fun time, too. Proceeds raised from Oktoberfest are used by the committee for civic improvements and/or to various groups.

“It all goes back into the community,” Guiter said.