West Park United Church of Christ will bring German food, games and community fellowship to Rocky River Drive when it hosts an Oktoberfest celebration Saturday, Sept. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m.
The family-friendly fundraiser will take place at the church, 3909 Rocky River Drive. Tickets cost $20, with proceeds supporting the church’s community outreach efforts.
According to the church’s Growth and Outreach Chairperson Dan Moreland, this will be West Park UCC’s first Oktoberfest celebration in at least four decades.
“In the 40 years I’ve been associated with West Park UCC, this is the first time we have hosted an Oktoberfest celebration to the best of my knowledge,” Moreland said.
The church has held a themed fall fundraiser annually for approximately 10 years. Previous events have highlighted different foods and cultures. Last year’s “An Evening in Paris,” for example, featured French-inspired food and games.
Organizers chose Oktoberfest as this year’s theme because of the celebration’s traditional association with the fall season.
A small group of church volunteers will prepare a German-inspired menu featuring pork schnitzel, buttered noodles with cabbage, sausage and sauerkraut, soft pretzels, warm potato salad and assorted German desserts.
Because the event is designed for all ages, beverages will be non-alcoholic and include root beer, iced tea, ginger ale and water. Guests can also participate in activities such as Oktoberfest bingo and pretzel trivia.
The celebration will include a basket fundraiser featuring donations from members and various church boards. Some baskets may reflect the Oktoberfest theme, while others may not.
Funds raised through the event help West Park UCC maintain programs serving residents throughout the surrounding community.
Among those programs is the church’s Community Cupboard. Through the end of August, the cupboard had served 577 families comprising 1,503 individuals, compared with 435 families and 1,190 individuals during the same period in 2025. That represents an increase of nearly 33% in the number of families served.
“We are always grateful for hygiene supplies (i.e. soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, tooth paste, mouthwash, deodorant, combs, brushes, nail clippers, and other similar necessities), as well as shelf-stable and unexpired food,” says Rev. Bobby Burtt. “As inflation continues to stretch household budgets, more people are turning to resources like the Community Cupboard.”
The church expects the Community Cupboard to assist almost 1,000 families in 2026, up from approximately 750 last year.
“We have an amazing partnership with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank that enables us to obtain most of the pantry staples that we need to help to keep our neighbors, near and far, fed,” he adds.
Pastor Bobby emphasized that the church’s outreach reflects a broader commitment to welcoming and serving the entire community.
“The most important thing we do is love our neighbors. All our neighbors,” he said, including people across differences in faith, sexuality, gender, race, culture and socioeconomic background.
That commitment, he said, has helped West Park UCC remain relevant in the community for more than 165 years.
Advance reservations are requested so volunteers know how much food to prepare. Attendees may reserve their places by calling the church or purchasing tickets online here: https://tithe.ly/event-registration/#/11364066