Correspondent photo / John Patrick Gatta
Cara Pecchia of McDonald, owner of The Learning Tree preschool and organizer / creator of the kids activities, works with Maci Manson, 7, of McDonald to use paper weaving to make the Bavarian flag at Saturday’s Oktoberfest in McDonald.

Spread out over 14 hours on Saturday, it became a well-attended community event that catered to multiple generations who enjoyed a day of engaging activities including Zumba and a pickleball tournament, local food trucks and homemade goods.

“This is the definition of old-fashioned, small-town America,” said McDonald Mayor Ray Lewis. “It’s outstanding.”

Event coordinator Kim Jones-Schmidt said, “McDonald is a family-oriented community. So, having a family-based event will always be a priority but beer is definitely involved with our beer tent kicking off with The Saxon Club Band and Mayor Ray Lewis tapping the keg.”

Oktoberfest acts as a fundraiser for buying equipment and programming for Woodland Park, site of Saturday’s festivities.

The event originally started as a fall fest five years ago, but morphed into its present incarnation that celebrates a German-inspired Oktoberfest.

“I was lucky enough to attend an actual Oktoberfest in Bremen, Germany many years ago and just thought it was the coolest thing,” Jones-Schmidt said. “Between the music, bratwursts, and amazing attire, I knew when we started this event in the village, it would be something really fun and different to bring not only to our village, but to our area as well.”

While the majority of those in attendance were village residents, those living in Niles, Mineral Ridge, Girard, Youngstown, Austintown, Boardman, Burghill and more also took part in the activities at Woodland Park.

Displaying the regional reach, the Peppers & Oil Contest with judges Joe Danyi of Youngstown Studio and Jeremy Oklota of Youngstown Pizza Reviews crowned this year’s Judge’s Choice winner, Donny Riccitelli of Boardman, while The Montecalvo’s team of Jake Mikesell of Niles, Marissa Mikesell of Niles and Isabella Frazeskos of Warren won the People’s Choice Award, and the Love Soup team of McDonald won Best Presentation.

“Every year we try to bring in something new, whether it’s new kids activities, new food vendors, new craft market vendors,” Jones-Schmidt said. “There’s always something new coming in to keep the event fun and interesting.”

This year that included The Learning Tree preschool hosting hands-on kids entertainment plus an early morning kids Zumba class, story time presented by Roosevelt Elementary School teachers, a mini-golf course, an obstacle course featuring a climbing wall from Yo Big Bounce, a variety of food options that included pierogi, Puerto Rican specialties and traditional fair items such as hoagies and fries, local vendors with homemade blankets, pastries, jewelry, clothing, fudge, jam and laundry detergent and live music provided by The Saxon Club Band for traditional fare and area favorite, RDNA, kicking off the evening’s party atmosphere with a mix of classic pop, rock, soul and country.