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WARREN -- Oktoberfest on the Square has many of the elements people associate with the celebration, from specialty beers to German food.
It also includes some less traditional activities, like face painting and pony rides.
"We want this to be both for people who really appreciate crafter beers and craft breweries, but we we also want it to be accessible and exciting for families who want to come downtown for a few hours on a Saturday and have something to enjoy," Meghan Reed, executive director of the Trumbull County Historical Society, said.
The event, which runs 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at downtown Warren's Courthouse Square, is the historical society's largest annual fundraiser.
Other new attractions for children include a junior grape stomping competition to complement the adult competition that has been a crowd favorite for years.
For the adult competition, four teams, each with four people, will see who can stomp the most grapes in the allotted time. The team that creates the most juice will win the wine created from last year's grapes.
A new competition this year is a stein hoisting competition as participants try to be the one who can hold up a full stein of beer the longest with an outstretched arm. It replaces the alphorn competition that was a part of the gathering until 2019.
"After COVID-19, we realized that was not the sanitary thing to offer, so we're going to try out the stein hoist," Reed said.
Entertainment will be provided by the Youngstown Saxon Band.
"It wouldn't be Oktoberfest without them," Reed said.
Oktoberfest will start with the tapping of the keg of an Oktoberfest brew created by Modern Methods Brewing Company in downtown Warren. It is one of five area breweries that will be pouring their creations. The other brewers are Birdfish, Noble Creature, Paladin and the 1547 Project.
"We're asking each to bring two beers, and one has to be an Oktoberfest of fall wheat beer," Reed said.
Adult tickets for the event are $25 in advance and $30 the day of the event, and include a German meal and two drink tickets.
This year's food offerings will include brats and sauerkraut with brats, including a vegan option, grilled by Cockeye BBQ and sauerkraut prepared by Downtown 124, German potato salad from the Underground Lounge, green beans with spaetzle from Mijavek Catering, and peppers and onions from Saratoga Restaurant. There also will be a snack tent that includes pretzels and beer cheese.
Tickets for those ages 13 to 20 are $15 and include the meal, while children ages 12 and younger are admitted for free with kid's meal available at the event.
Tickets are available at www.trumbullcountyhistory.com/oktoberfest. For more information, call 330-394-4653.