Festival promises taste of Germany

It's beer festival month in Germany - and the Okere Falls Store has joined the occasion again with a mixture of fun entertainment and events.
The week-long German beer, food and music festival started on Monday and has involved a celebration of traditional German food and beer imported from a 700-year-old brewery every day.
However, the annual event is set to attract the busiest and most attractive part of the event on Saturday, with a relaxed family environment in the afternoon and live entertainment from a 30-piece German "Oompah" band from Auckland in the evening.
The Okere Falls Store has arranged for transport from the Rotorua Information Centre on Fenton St from 1pm and 6pm on the day for $10 per person return.
Okere Falls Store owner Sarah Uhl said it was the third event of its kind for the store and had proved to be a popular event for both locals and those from out-of town.
"A lot of the local bach owners or renters return back for Labour Weekend and come along and even people who live out-of-town come an enjoy the authentic festival," she said.
"It's an awesome time for everyone to get together and catch up with friends in a fun, relaxed environment," she said.
Mrs Uhl said the beer festival had attracted about 100 people every night throughout the week, but was expecting to double that amount on Friday night. She expected about 400 people throughout the day on Saturday.
"It's not just a beer festival, there's great food and entertainment and there will be two phases to the environment on Saturday," she said.
"It will be a really nice chilled out atmosphere in the afternoon for family gatherings with beautiful food and a fun eventful evening," she said.
"It's all about embracing and enjoying another culture and will benefit those who live around the store as it's brought right to your doorstep," she said.
There will also be a large range of weather coverage and a bonfire if it's cold.
Mrs Uhl encouraged those interested to come along and pre-book for buses from town if needed. She said there would be stops available along the main roads to the venue as well as for large groups.
The event will also feature a prize for the best dressed-styled German with a $100 voucher from the Okere Falls Store.
The beer festival will finish on Sunday with a traditional German bier breakfast from 9am.
The event will be from 12pm to 10pm on Saturday and the $20 ticket can be purchased from the Okere Falls Store. On Sunday the event will go from 9am to 2pm.
The Okere Falls Store is located at 759 State Highway 33, RD4 Okere Falls. For more information contact the store on (07) 3624 944 or email okerefallsstore.co.nz.