Oktoberfest raises funds to help Lincoln County

For the past two years, Downshift Brewing Company has hosted an Oktoberfest at the end of September. Guests who attend have been treated to traditional German food, live music and a celebration of the craft beer community in Ruidoso. This year, Downshift Brewing Company will be hosting the event from 2-10 p.m., Sept. 28, at their picturesque Riverside location, 2704 Sudderth Dr. 

            “It’s such a fun, inclusive event. You cannot go to an Oktoberfest and not smile,” said Shelby Rist, co-founder of Downshift Brewing Company. 

Contrary to belief, Oktoberfest is more than just enjoying beer. Downshift Brewing does a wondrous job of keeping the event family friendly with events for everyone to enjoy. 

There will be several activities to participate in like a costume contest for King and Queen of Oktoberfest, best dressed, chicken dance, stein holding contest and more. Local vendors will be on site with items ranging from jewelry to cannabis. Noisy Water Winery will also be in attendance. As for food, Downshift Brewery will have traditional German food including schnitzel, bratwurst and more. 

The entertainment lineup this year includes Fungi Mungle and Feline Fox from El Paso, Red Light Cameras and Die Polka Schlingels from Albuquerque, Chris Baker from Las Cruces, Doso Dirtbags from Ruidoso, and more. 

Downshift Brewing will have their full section of beer available as well as their Oktoberfest and Kolsch. 

Breweries from the Collective Good Initiative will also be at the festival, Rist said. Collective Good Initiative features breweries from New Mexico and Texas that brew the same style of beer and raise funds to donate to rotating charities. With the recent fires and floods in Ruidoso, a portion of the proceeds will go to Lincoln County and those impacted by the disasters. Later this Fall, there will be a beer released from Collective Good also to benefit Lincoln County.

A call went out to regional breweries to see if they would be interested in collaborating in this project. Rist said they wanted to find a way to raise funds and make the largest impact they can. Other breweries included in the festival are Ex Novo Brewing Company, Canteen Brewhouse, Steel Bender Brewyard and Marble Brewery from Albuquerque, Nuckolls Brewing Co. from Sante Fe, DeadBeach Brewery and Three Missions Brewery from El Paso, and Icebox Brewing Company and Spotted Dog Brewery from Las Cruces.

It has been heartening to see the response statewide, according to Rist. “We’re appreciative of that for sure. Part of the Collective Good and Oktoberfest is to just get the word out that we are still here. I think there was a lot of misinformation that the entire town burned down and the entire town was flooded and gone. And that’s not the case,” Rist said. “Part of Collective Good is to bring in funds for the people who have been impacted, and also bring in people to spread the word that Ruidoso is here. Come and visit. Visit safely, visit responsibly and enjoy yourselves. We are still here and we need people to come in order for us to remain here.”

Tickets are available online at eventbrite.com and at both Downshift locations in Ruidoso. Early bird general admission is $15, early bird First Responder/Military with ID is $10 and early bird general admission (13-20 years old and designated drivers) is $10. Children 12 years old and younger are free. Early bird VIP (21+) is $80 and comes with a VIP area, 1 Downshift Beer token, 1 Downshift Food token, a Downshift Oktoberfest event shirt and swag bag. Info: 575-257-2273.