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Oktoberfest Changes Venues

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By JASON GEARY, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 13, 2007

UPPER TAMPA BAY - The beer, bratwurst and merriment will remain the same - even as 'Top O' the Bay Oktoberfest' changes location.

The Upper Tampa Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce will host the 12th annual event this month at Tampa Bay Downs off Race Track Road.

Mike Monahan, the chamber's vice president for business, said the track provides more space for festivities.

'It's going to be a much bigger venue capable of handling more people and more cars ... and offering us more opportunity to expand in the future,' he said.

Since 1999, the event has been held at R.E. Olds Park in Oldsmar. Along with food and beer, the festival includes music, arts and crafts, souvenirs, and a carnival midway.

For the past few years, chamber officials estimate attendance for the three-day event was 20,000 to 22,000. With such large crowds, the lack of parking at R.E. Olds Park had become problematic.

'Basically, we outgrew the park,' said Carryl Moore, the chamber's vice president of events.

The track offers three times the space of the park with much more hard surface parking for guests, Moore said.

The event, which has been held once before at Tampa Bay Downs, will take place in a grassy area between the race track and its golf range.
Margo Flynn, a spokeswoman for the track, said the nearby clubhouse parking lot can accommodate several thousand and, if necessary, the west parking lot can also be made available.

She said the event wouldn't interrupt the live racing season, which doesn't begin until December.

In addition, Flynn said planned construction on Race Track Road in front of the track isn't expected to be under way during Oktoberfest.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Top O' the Bay Oktoberfest
WHEN: Oct. 26, 27 and 28

TIMES: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Tampa Bay Downs, 11225 Race Track Road

COST: Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and younger will be admitted free

INFORMATION: www.utbchamber.com

Reporter Jason Geary can be reached at (813) 865-1505 or jgeary@tampatrib.com.

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