Photos: 60th annual Amana Colonies Oktoberfest keg tapping

The community celebrated the 60th annual Amana Colonies Oktoberfest with a keg tapping parade and ceremony in Amana Friday

Savannah Blake

Oct. 3, 2025 4:03 pm, Updated: Oct. 3, 2025 6:18 pm

Newly appointed Bürgermeister Jon Childers (left) and retiring Bürgermeister Patrick Kellenberger (right) carry a keg together for the annual keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Every year a keg is transported on the Bürgermeister float and carried into the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. Beer is distributed to 150 community members to drink during the ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Newly appointed Bürgermeister Jon Childers (right) and his wife and the First Lady of Beer Tara Childers wave to the crowd as they cruise down 220th Trail for the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Childers was the master of ceremonies for the festival until he took over the responsibility of Bürgermeister this year. A Bürgermeister in Germany is a mayor of a town or city so the Amana Colony Bürgermeister acts as the mayor of the festival. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Newly appointed Bürgermeister Jon Childers (left), First Lady Beer of Tara Childers (middle) and retiring Bürgermeister Patrick Kellenberger (right) raise their steins as they crowd cheers after the annual keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Every year a keg is transported on the Bürgermeister float and carried into the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. Beer is distributed to 150 community members to drink during the ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

150 cups of beer wait for community members to take as they enter the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Every year a keg is transported on the Bürgermeister float and carried into the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. Beer is distributed to 150 community members to drink during the ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

A community member holds up their stein of beer for a toast while watching the keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. This is the 60th year for the festival and festivities happen throughout the weekend. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members trail behind the Bürgermeister float during the annual keg tapping parade at the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. People dressed in traditional German attire lined the streets for the parade and could follow the float to the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members hold up their mugs of beer as they wave to the Bürgermeister float during the annual keg tapping parade at the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. People dressed in traditional German attire lined the streets for the parade and could follow the float to the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Heidi Sandersfeld of Amana waves to the crowd as she rides on the Bürgermeister float during the annual keg tapping parade at the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Sandersfeld says she grew up with the new Bürgermeister, Jon Childers. The float was filled with family and friends of the new and retiring Bürgermeister. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Members of the Beer Man Group walk behind buildings and head to the street to start the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. The band led the Bürgermeister float to the Festhalle where the keg tapping ceremony takes place. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Newly appointed Bürgermeister Jon Childers looks over the float that he and his family will ride in for the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Childers was the master of ceremonies for the festival until he took over the responsibility of Bürgermeister this year. A Bürgermeister in Germany is a mayor of a town or city so the Amana Colony Bürgermeister acts as the mayor of the festival. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

The Bürgermeister float leads the way as community members trail behind it during the annual keg tapping parade at the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. People dressed in traditional German attire lined the streets for the parade and could follow the float to the Festhalle for the keg tapping ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Gretchen Muhlenbruck of Amana (right) and Kathy Kellenberger of Amana (left) help Emily Kellenberger (middle) of Amana with her belt before loading onto the Bürgermeister float during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Emily is the daughter of the retiring Bürgermeister, Patrick Kellenberger. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Retiring Bürgermeister Patrick Kellenberger leads the toast to kick off the festivities after the keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Before the cheers glasses of free beer are distributed to community members to participate in the keg tapping ceremony. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Emily Kellenberger of Amana (middle) and her sister Beth Stockman of Amana leave the Bürgermeister float after arriving at the Festhalle after the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Emily and Beth are the daughters of the retiring Bürgermeister, Patrick Kellenberger. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Members of the Beer Man Group put on their drums ahead of the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. The band led the Bürgermeister float to the Festhalle where the keg tapping ceremony takes place. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Community members hold up their mugs of beer for a toast while watching the keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. This is the 60th year for the festival and festivities happen throughout the weekend. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Beth Stockman of Amana smiles as she talks with friends and family on the Bürgermeister float before the annual keg tapping parade during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. Beth is the daughter of the retiring Bürgermeister, Patrick Kellenberger. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Heidi Sandersfeld of Amana (left) refills newly appointed Bürgermeister Jon Childers’ (right) stein with beer after finishing the annual keg tapping ceremony during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. This marks the 60th anniversary of the festival. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Colleen Nissen (right) of Wall Lake smiles as she dances with her twin Bernadine Steinkamp of Wall Lake during the Amana Colonies Oktoberfest in Amana on Friday. This marks the 60th anniversary of the festival. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

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