Texas-OU watch party + brats, burgers & beer with music by Emerald City’s Elevation
Make plans now to attend the first-ever Lakeside Village Oktoberfestival in The Shops at Lakeside Village on Saturday, October 10, from noon to 10 pm. Admission is free.
Presented by The Tavern at Lakeside in partnership with the Town of Flower Mound and Lakeside Village, the festival takes over the 2600 block of Lakeside Parkway, west of Surrey Lane. The day includes a Texas-OU watch party at 2:30 pm, live music, multiple beer gardens, brats, burgers, pizza, and tailgate games. Stein-hoisting and a wiener-dog costume contest round out the festivities, and the DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation will be on hand as a participating partner.
“Texas-OU weekend has always been an exciting weekend for us,” said Dave Coussirat, owner of The Tavern at Lakeside and lead organizer of the event. “The game will be broadcast on the stage’s big screen, so it should make for a great watch party. We expect 3,500 to 5,000 visitors over the course of the day.”
After the game, DJ Astronaut will entertain the crowd until the evening’s headliner takes the stage at 6 pm: Elevation, a subgroup of the ever-popular Emerald City Band.
The festival also has a charitable side. Organizers hope to raise money for the DFW Dachshund Rescue Foundation to help dogs find a home. So come hungry and ready to support a good cause.
Building on the success of St. Paddy’s Festival
Planning for Oktoberfest began soon after last spring’s St. Paddy’s Festival. A larger-than-expected turnout and near-universal approval suggested Lakeside Village was ready for more seasonal celebrations.
“The first year is always the toughest,” Coussirat said. “Potential event sponsors said they’d only be able to support us once we provided proof of concept. Mission accomplished.”
The event also won over merchants along Lakeside Parkway, many of whom saw a boost in sales and visibility. Even businesses a few blocks away, such as Flurry’s Lakeside, felt the impact.
“We consistently heard variations of, ‘Lakeside should host events like this on a quarterly basis,’” said Clayton Flurry. “We couldn’t agree more. Events like this not only drive traffic and sales but also strengthen Lakeside Village’s identity as a gathering place.”
The lay of the land
The 2600 block of Lakeside Parkway (from Surrey Lane to just short of the northern roundabout) will close to vehicles from 6 am until midnight on October 10. The roundabout itself will stay open. Pedestrians can enter the block from either end; sidewalks and traffic lanes will remain open to foot traffic.
The stage will sit next to The Tavern, and tailgate games, including cornhole, will fill the median.
Food tents will serve brats, burgers, and large pretzels. Food trucks, including Hook ‘n Ladder Pizza, Puffy Cotton Candy, and German Chocolatier, round out the menu. All on top of the many restaurants at The Shops at Lakeside Village.
Multiple beer gardens will be set up along the block, including a long tent in front of The Tavern and Sakhuu Thai. Beverage partners include Red Bull, Sam Adams, and Martin House Brewing.
VIP tickets are $50 and available on the Tavern’s website.
Getting There (Hint: Take a Ride-Share Service)
Parking will be difficult. First try Lakeside Parkway (outside of the festival area) where spaces become available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The community’s side streets may also provide options. Please note: parking spaces fill up quickly on Saturdays. Oktoberfestival will only worsen the parking landscape.
If you’re not within walking distance, we highly recommend a ride-share service — even if you don’t plan to drink.
