Council Gets Taste Addison Recap and Oktoberfest Preview

At the August 8 City Council Meeting, Special Events Director Abby Morales shared an event recap from Taste Addison 2023 and provided a preview of the upcoming Oktoberfest festival. Nearly 15,000 visitors came out to Addison Circle Park for Taste Addison on June 2 - 3 to enjoy music on three stages and food from 29 restaurants and concessionaires. In an event survey, 58% of the attendees said that the food was what attracted them to the event. "Music" and "All of It" were tied for the second most selected reasons for attending, with 42% each.

Expenditures for Taste Addison, which is funded through Addison's hotel fund, exceeded revenues by $461,634, but the direct economic impact of the event is estimated to be nearly $1 million. In addition, paid and in-kind advertising generated nearly 80 million impressions and 418 total news stories and listings delivered another 25 million impressions, for a total marketing reach in excess of 100 million impressions.

Addison's next big special event is Addison Oktoberfest which takes place September 14 -17 at Addison Circle Park. Now in its 36th year, Addison Oktoberfest has a national reputation as one of the most authentic celebrations of its kind in the U.S., but with a uniquely Texas twist. For four days, visitors can revel in all things German from brats and strudel, to polka and games likes keg rolling and stein hoisting, and, of course, bier.

Thursday and Sunday are free and Friday and Saturday are $10 for ages 10 and up. Tables are available for purchase on the Partyhalle Deck all four days and include admission (Friday and Saturday), steins, bier, and lapel pins for 8 people as well as access to a private bar. A family event, this year's Kidsgarten has been expanded and a new Partyplatz area for teens has been added, complete with a silent disco. Get more information and purchase tickets at www.AddisonOktoberfest.com.

You can watch Council's event discussion here, read the Taste Addison presentation here, and read the Oktoberfest presentation here.