The Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest welcomes and encourages groups, family reunions, company picnics, motorcoach bus tours and civic clubs to plan their gathering in conjunction with our annual celebration. Getting your relatives together at the Oktoberfest is great way to renew family relationships, catch up on the latest news, commemorate heritage, celebrate proud moments, and remember loved ones.  Reunions provide an atmosphere for families to reminiscence, create new memories and pass on family traditions to the younger generation. Holding your family reunion or group event at the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest has never been easier!  Hays is a great location to plan your gathering because we are conveniently located on I-70 and U.S. Highway 183.  The Ellis County Fair Grounds is easy to get to from the interstate at exit 157 and the Highway 183 bypass on the northwest edge of Hays.  Our community has over 60 restaurants, 1000 motel rooms and there are over 20 meeting places that can accommodate groups from 10-800 to hold off site gatherings before or after the Oktoberfest.           Your group will enjoy eating together and feast on delicious Ellis County German food prepared by the ladies with the local church groups and civic clubs.  Some of your family members may want to participate in the hands-on cooking demonstrations or the skillet throwing competitions.   Of course everyone will want to dance into the evening with polka music from some of the best polka bands in this region.   If you have never attended a polka mass, then let everyone in your family or group know about the polka mass that is scheduled on Sunday at 10 a.m. in the Gold Building.  “I can take care of my Sunday mass obligation, and still enjoy tapping my toe to some good polka music” commented one local Volga German resident.    You and your group may want to visit some of the other interesting attractions in Ellis County while you are here for the Midwest Deutsche Oktoberfest.  Tour the beautiful churches, visit the Bukovina Museum, Volga German Haus or Stone Gallery.  Click on the German attractions section on our website for more details.     For more information on how you can make arrangements for your group to enjoy the Oktoberfest celebration with us, contact:   Leo Dorzweiler - Chairman 2260 Catherine Road Hays, KS 67601 785-625-5394    Ruben Schuckman 2700 Vine Hays, KS 67601 785-628-8202 rschuckman@haysusa.com