St. Patrick Church Cancels Its 2020 Oktoberfest In Carlsbad

CARLSBAD, CA — St. Patrick Catholic Church in Carlsbad will not host its 8th Annual Oktoberfest this year, due to coronavirus-related, planning difficulties.

"Due to the current situation, we could not make any arrangements for the event," said Steve Rodriguez from the parish's Oktoberfest organizer, Knights of Columbus Council 15076. "We were waiting for an approval to conduct the event, which never came, so the planning never happened."

The Bavarian-inspired festival, typically held at the Adams Street church hall, proved a popular, family-friendly event each year, featuring German food, beer, live music and entertainment. The tentative date for a 2020 Oktoberfest was Sunday, Sept. 26.

"Usually we sell tickets after mass for a few weeks prior, but with today's restrictions (that was) not allowed," Rodriguez said. "Hopefully, we can conduct this, and other events, for the parish in the coming year."

Scrapping of the Carlsbad festival follows a growing list of Oktoberfest cancellations in San Diego County and throughout the state.

• The Encinitas Chamber of Commerce confirmed last week its 25th Oktoberfest on Oct. 4, held annually on El Camino Real and Mountain Vista Drive, was canceled due to pandemic-planning complications.
• In El Cajon, the German American Societies of San Diego in July canceled its popular festival that was to run two weekends in September and October.
• Lake Arrowhead Village's massive Oktoberfest, planned each weekend in October, was canceled, with organizers now trying to raise funds to support bands, entertainers, charities and staff.
• Beaumont in Riverside County also announced its three-day, 31st Annual King Ludwig's Oktoberfest was scrapped for 2020.
• And in San Francisco's Bay Area, Clayton dropped its 2020 Oktoberfest, a three-day, Munich-style festival that included carnival rides.

And local organizers are not alone in deciding to nix a Bavarian festival this year, as German officials cited COVID-19 in April when pulling the plug on Munich's 220-year, legendary Oktoberfest, the world's largest such event, annually drawing 6 million visitors.

And among other large-sized, holiday and community events canceled throughout the state due to COVID-19: Half Moon Bay's 2020 Art & Pumpkin Festival in the SF Bay Area; Rose Bowl Parade 2021 in Pasadena; the Los Angeles Philharmonic's fall concert series at Walt Disney Concert Hall; "Hamilton" performances in Hollywood (delayed to spring); and Anaheim's Fall Festival and Halloween Parade, a community tradition since 1923.

• ALSO SEE: Keep Summer Going: Enjoy Funnel Cake Recipe