Members of Actung! Polka Band are, from left, Kyle Kain, Dave Parrott, Joe Pierson, Barb Wollan (with clarinet in front), Hannah Pierson (with trombone), Tamiann Parrott (with clarinet), and Tom Rauch, have been practicing polka music since late August.

Greg and Tami Olson, owners of Seneca Street Saloon, are prepared to host Oktoberfest. Any donations received throughout the evening will benefit the WCHS Music Department.

Seasonal, on-tap beers, a special pizza and Webster City’s newest band — Actung! Polka Band — will recreate the atmosphere of a traditional German Oktoberfest.

The first Oktoberfest dates to 1810 in Munich, capital of the German state of Bavaria. That year, a beloved prince, Ludwig, got married and the whole city was invited to a week-long celebration, culminating in an exciting horse race. Today, more than six million people visit Munich every year to enjoy the beautifully landscaped biergartens, beer tents, typical Bavarian food, music and dancing. It runs for three weeks each fall.

Seneca Street Saloon owners Greg and Tami Olson are pulling out the stops to make their one-night Oktoberfest equally special. Three seasonal beers have been ordered especially for Oktoberfest, all served on tap. They include Sam Adams Oktoberfest, described as deep amber in color, mildly sweet and with a light hops overtone; Hawktoberfest, a product of Back Pocket Brewing in Coralville, said to be brewed in a traditional Munich style; and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest, from Wisconsin’s famed Leinenkugel Brewery.

To go with the special tap beers are the Saloon’s Bavarian pretzel, served with three kinds of dipping sauces, and a bratwurst and sauerkraut pizza. Of course the Saloon will also serve its usual menu.

It has been reported all summer that there is a rise of locally-produced music in Webster City. Live music added to the conviviality downtown on 12 Market Nights, from June to August. Local band Humble Beginnings put on an evening of easy-going music at Seneca and Bank streets on June 14. Lawn chairs in the street, food and drink, and perfect summer weather left Webster Citians asking for more.

The Webster City Municipal Band, brought back after an absence of many years, played three concerts in West Twin Park this season. Recently, a new flute ensemble, composed of experienced adult flutists and eager-to-learn student musicians announced they’ll play several numbers in this year’s Community Chorus Concert in December.

Now, meet the newest member of Webster City’s growing “City of Music” movement — Actung! Polka Band. The band’s musicians are mostly members of the Municipal Band who simply weren’t ready to put down their instruments at the end of summer. They came up with the idea of an Oktoberfest celebration, and started practicing polka, waltzes and German marching music on Tuesday evenings.

Webster City High School Band Director Kyle Kain bought a sheet music package of 23 songs that should provide about two hours of music. Written for two tubas and two euphoniums, Kain had to rearrange it for the musicians and instruments in the band.

“It wasn’t a terrible task,” he said.

If you go to Oktoberfest, expect to hear the “Colonel Bogey March,” “Peanuts Polka,” “Instrumentalists March,” “Clarinet Polka,” and “Under The Double Eagle,” among others.