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Fairfield First Friday’s Art Walk hosts Oktoberfest
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FAIRFIELD – A typical Oktoberfest in Fairfield requires bundling up, as the final outdoor art walk of the year marks a transition to cool fall temperatures.
That was not true for this year’s Oktoberfest on Friday, however, as residents packed Central Park on an unusually warm autumn night as many people could be seen sporting shorts and T-shirts. A big draw for Fairfield First Friday’s October Art Walk is the annual Wiener Dog Races. Locals bring their Dachshunds for the race to see who is the fastest of them all. This year, that honor went to Karen Helmick’s 1-year-old wiener dog named Frannie.
Helmick entered two wiener dogs in the race, Frannie and 3-year-old Kosmo.
“They’ve never raced in any races before,” she said.
What did Helmick do to push Frannie to run her best?
“Call her,” she said. “I’m her rock.”
Helmick walks her dogs three or four times each day. She said she loves dogs in general and that she’s especially fond of wiener dogs.
“They’re loyal, cuddling and warm,” she said. “They keep my feet warm in the wintertime. [Frannie] sits on my lap almost all the time when I’m home.”
Marla Brader, executive director of Fairfield First Fridays Art Walk, said she was pleased at how Oktoberfest turned out.
“Friday’s event was so much fun!” she said. “Good turnout, great weather, great music and dogs … all fabulous things!”
As the wiener dog races wrapped up, a group of children and a few adults made chalk drawings on the sidewalk, while others moved and grooved to the rocking sounds of The Jefferson County Green Band.
The October Art Walk concludes the outdoor art walks for the season, which will move in-doors until next June. The November Art Walk on Nov. 1 will be a gallery hop around the square. Other events to put on the calendar include the December Art Walk on Dec. 6, which will feature horse-drawn carriage rides, and the Holiday Trade Fair Dec. 13-14 at the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center.
Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com
