The first Sweet Springs Octoberfest is slated for Saturday, Oct. 4, downtown on Miller Street, according to a news release.

Events will get underway at 10 a.m. and will continue through the evening hours with dinner and music.

Crafters and venders will be set up ready to go by 10 a.m. There will be a variety of crafters, including pottery, ceramics, wickless candles, jewelry, artists and more.

Interested crafters or vendors wanting to sign up can call 660-335-0077 or 660-335-6367. Booth space is free.

Barrel train rides will be available for kids and at 11 a.m. the Chamber of Commerce Cake Walk will get underway.

According to organizers, "Octoberfest wouldn't be a festival without lots of food!"

The Sweet Springs Volunteer Fire Department will have barbecued ribs available and Sweet Springs R-VII FCCLA will be selling hamburgers, hot dogs and soda. Khede's Barbecue of Sedalia will also be on hand. There will be nachos, kettle corn and funnel cakes available.

Meal tickets are on sale now for dinner, featuring brats, sauerkraut, pork burgers, German potato salad, chips, baked beans, drink and bread pudding with apples and caramel sauce. Tickets are available at First Community Bank, Community Bank of Marshall, Ronald Hinton Dental Clinic, Roxton Realty and the Sweet Springs Herald.

A rain date has been set for Saturday, Oct. 11.

The Sweet Springs FFA Chapter will be setting up the Hay Tunnel, which opens at 1 p.m. for kids.

The Wesley United Methodist Church will coordinate the Pumpkin Painting event for kids at 2:30 p.m. Pumpkins and paint will be provided. The event will be held near the Hay Tunnel on the corner of Main and Miller Streets.

Immanuel Lutheran Church youth group will be coordinating the Best Tasting Pie Contest at 2 p.m. Bring a pie, any kind, and take a chance at winning a $25 gift certificate to Piggly Wiggly. The pies will be auctioned off to help raise funds for the youth group.

The Lutheran youth group will also be coordinating the Pie Eating Contest for ages 16 and over at 4 p.m. in the Octoberfest Gardens.

Mu Omega, a chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, will coordinate a scarecrow contest in the Octoberfest Gardens at 3:30 p.m. for ages infant through 12 years old. Registration begins at 3 p.m.

A dog show will be held at 5 p.m. on the concrete area in the Octoberfest Gardens. Check-in will take place at 4:45 p.m. Dogs must be cleaned and groomed.

All dogs must be on a leash and be under control at all times.

Judging will be done on grooming and obedience. No vicious dogs are allowed. The event is open for children and adults.

An Octoberfest hay ride will take place at 7:30 p.m. for all ages and will be provided by Sweet Springs First Baptist Church.

The Octoberfest Beer and Wine Garden will feature food and music by the Justin Truelove Band, a local singer and graduate of Sweet Springs High School.

Dinner will be served from 6 to 8 p.m. with music from 7 to 10 p.m. The Gardens will close at 11 p.m.

Participants can watch the MU versus Nebraska game at 8 p.m. on big screen TV in the Octoberfest garden.