REINBECK – If you’re looking for a good local time on Saturday, Sept. 27, look no further than the annual street party in front Reinbeck’s The Dig Inn – Becktoberfest is back and better than ever!

Now in its 14th year after first debuting in 2011 with the opening of the since-shuttered Broad Street Brewing before taking a couple years off, the ‘bands, brats, bier’ festival held in the 100 block of Broad Street has been sponsored since 2021 by Ben and Holly Robertson who opened The Dig Inn in the former brewery’s footprint.

“Becktoberfest is just a really good time hanging out listening to music and drinking some great beer,” Ben told the newspaper. “And the weather on September 27 should be perfect.”

As part of the festivities, The Dig Inn will feature more than 10 kinds of traditional Oktoberfest beers including Märzens.

In terms of eats, Bringing The Chi food truck will be set up out front of The Dig Inn for most of the day, Ben added. The Waterloo-based business bills itself as serving “The Best Gourmet Sandwiches on Four Wheels.” According to their website, Bringing The Chi’s top four meals include Italian Beef, Double Cheeseburger, Two Chicago Dogs (mustard, relish, onions, tomato, celery salt, kosher-style pickle spear, sport peppers), and Maxwell Polish (beef and pork mixed served with mustard, sweet caramelized onions, and sport peppers).

One of the biggest draws this year – besides all the beer, of course — is the music lineup which will roll out in front of The Dig Inn on Broad Street in a change from last year’s back patio performances.

Bands include opening act Stadium Dr. – a classic rock folk duo based in central Iowa – which fires up around noon followed by Ben’s own band Ash Tree Memorial which should take to the street around 1:30 p.m.

Local favorite Katie and the Honky Tonks – whose debut album “Ain’t No Shame” has been smoking up the music reviews both in Iowa and across the country – will headline, starting sometime around 3-4 p.m. The classic country band led by Gladbrook-Reinbeck alumna Katie Sires will play “a nice long set, or two,” Ben said.

So, if you’re in the market for bands, brats, beer and more, don’t book a flight to Munich, Germany, just get yourself to Broad Street in downtown Reinbeck starting at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Prost!