The Lewis-Pacific Swiss Society (LPSS) will host its 56th annual Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, Oct. 4, at the LPSS Swiss Hall located at 19 Swiss Picnic Road in Frances, according to a news release.
Along with steins full of beer and bratwursts to eat, the LPSS has games, live music performed by Kapelle Blaser-Faver, dancing and raffles. On-site RV and tent camping spots are available as well at $20 a night for those needing hookups and $10 a night for tents.
Festivities actually begin the day prior on Friday, Oct. 3, when the bar and kitchen of the Swiss Hall will open at 5 p.m. for a social evening and dinner.
Then, on Saturday, the bar opens once again at 11 a.m. to kick things off in the morning along with a European 9-pin bowling tournament, which is scheduled to run until 7 p.m. — with cash prizes and trophies for the top bowlers including a $500 cash prize for the first perfect score of 27 bowled.
Additionally, a vendor fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Swiss Hall’s kitchen will open on Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. grilling up bratwursts, kielbasa and burgers, with a dinner special available from 5 to 7 p.m.
Starting at 1 p.m., both horseshoe throwing and pinochle card game tournaments will begin. Pinochle is free to play while admission into the horseshoe tournament is $5 per participant.
Then at 2 p.m., a cornhole tournament will begin, with admission being $10 per participant.
The final game of the evening is the steinholding competition, beginning at 7 p.m. with admission being $5 per participant. To partake in steinholding, you must be at least 21.
LPSS closes out its Oktoberfest celebration at 9:30 p.m., with awards, a raffle and the coronation of Swiss Miss 2025-26.
Candidates for Swiss Miss this year are Addie Hodel and Ruby Magruder, and the reigning Swiss Miss is Ava Sells.
“LPSS would like to thank Ava for representing the club this past year and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors,” the LPSS said in the post.
Both Hodel and Magruder are selling Oktoberfest buttons for $5 each in their campaigns, which grant wearers access to the LPSS evening dance. They will be selling them at the festival, and ahead of time as well. To purchase a button from Hodel, call 360-880-2774, and to purchase one from Magruder, call 360-880-1159.
Raffle tickets will be available for $4 each, or a booklet of six for $20. Raffle prizes include cash prizes of $300 and $250, a $125 Safeway gift card, a $100 Ace Hardware gift card, a $75 Dairy Queen gift card, a pair of Schwingfest 2026 adult weekend passes and a $50 LPSS store gift certificate.
For more information, contact the LPSS on its Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/4suctsrk.
