Celebrate German heritage and Rock ‘n’ Roll roots during Kona’s third annual RocktoberFest this Saturday at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds. With a musical line-up of four local bands, delicious food, adult beverages and costume contests, it’s a community party and celebration of the season.
Celebrate German heritage and Rock ‘n’ Roll roots during Kona’s third annual RocktoberFest this Saturday at the Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel luau grounds. With a musical line-up of four local bands, delicious food, adult beverages and costume contests, it’s a community party and celebration of the season.
“Downtown Kona kept trying to do different things like a Halloween street fair, and it was always touch and go,” said Doug Mallardi, owner and organizer of the festival. “I wanted to do something that was good for Halloween, but also had that Oktoberfest feel to it. I combined the two and turned it into RocktoberFest where we feature live rock bands — not reggae, not jazz, but local rock bands. We serve up some German Oktoberfest type foods and beverages.”
Mallardi is happy with the festival’s success the previous two years and feels the event is growing in popularity.
“I think it’s a great combination that everyone seems to like,” he said. “We’ve got four local bands. They all do sets that are about 75 minutes. The headliner will go an hour and half or so. In between we’ll do the chicken dance a few times and then we have three different costume contests this year.”
The festival is described as “Costumes, Cocktails and Chickens.”
“That’s kind of the vibe behind the whole thing,” said Mallardi. “It’s a good opportunity to get together and celebrate Halloween and Oktoberfest. King Kam Luau Grounds is one of the most beautiful spots in Kona to have any type of event and we’re just really happy to be a part of that.”
There will be three costume contests. The first contest is best Oktoberfest couple, a couple who embodies the traditional spirit of Germany with lederhosen costuming. The second contest category is best team, which consists of three or more people. The third contest is best individual costume where anything goes. All costume contest winners are awarded a $250 cash prize.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a party without food, and Mallardi promises plenty of German fair to choose from.
“The food is provided by the King Kamehameha Hotel,” he said. “We’ll have traditional food for sale like bratwurst sandwiches and beer. We’ll have some games and have some fun in between the dance sets. There’s only a 15-minute break between bands so we keep the music going pretty much the whole time. You can listen to reggae all you want, but when you’re home in the shower and you’re singing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ to yourself — here you go. Here’s a six-hour shower. It’s all rock and roll and it’s a lot of fun. It’s really just a party.”
The doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tomi Isobe Blues Band plays at 4 p.m., Going Nowhere performs at 5:30, Bottle of Blue begins at 6:45 and The Darkroom takes the stage at 8:15.
Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.konarocktoberfest.com. ■