Saturday delivered just about everything organizers and visitors could have hoped for at New Glarus Oktoberfest: clear skies, comfortable late-September temperatures, a large crowd and a festive downtown atmosphere that stayed friendly well into the evening.

Temperatures reached about 70 degrees around midday, then eased into the upper 50s after dark and were expected to be near 54 degrees by the end of the night’s music. With clear skies and a gentle breeze, the weather gave festivalgoers an unusually comfortable day to move between the beer tent, downtown businesses and outdoor activities.

The weekend also came at the end of a demanding stretch for New Glarus Police Chief Jeff Sturdevant and his department. Sturdevant has been working long hours over the past two weeks, first during Cheese Days and now through New Glarus Oktoberfest, as the village police have provided officers for two major festival weekends in quick succession. 

Even after those long days, Sturdevant’s assessment of Oktoberfest was upbeat. “From my perspective, visitors are having a great time at Oktoberfest,” he said. “The atmosphere has been very positive, and people seem to be enjoying everything the festival and our community have to offer.”