Mark your calendars, friends and neighbors! The sixth annual Barracks Row Festival will be held Sept. 29. After a small event the first year, followed by four years of a very popular format of arts vendors, community booths, entertainment and children’s activities, we’re stepping out and trying something new. This year’s festival will be a cross between lederhosen and the Iron Chef: Capitol Hill’s Oktoberfest on Barracks Row!

But you liked the old festival, right? Why the change? What does it all mean? Don’t panic – this is going to be great!

First off, Barracks Row Main Street wanted to collaborate with a very exciting military event also being planned for the fall. For the first time in Washington, DC, the International Food Executives Association and the Military Hospitality Alliance are hosting their annual Military Culinary Competition. Ed Manley, of E. H. Manley and Associates, established this competition in the late 1990s. His goal was to showcase the genius and culinary abilities of military-trained chefs.

The Military Culinary Competition pits Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard chefs against one another, to determine who has the best culinary specialists. The associated bragging rights are apparently much coveted in military circles. Fifteen teams of four active duty military compete in a “mystery box” competition. After finding surprise ingredients in their box, the teams spend 30 minutes determining what to do with the ingredients and then two and a half hours preparing four servings of an appetizer and an entrée. Festival-goers can watch the competition and root for their favorite teams.

Several teams have already signed up or are expected to soon: The White House, Secretary of the Navy's office (two teams), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's household staff, Camp David, Chief of Staff of the Air Force's household staff, and the Army Quartermaster School in Fort Lee, Va.

Past winning teams have included the Army team from Fort Bragg, the Coast Guard out of Norfolk, Va., and the USS Williams, also out of Norfolk. Teams are expected this year from as far away as California, Japan and England.

Now on to the lederhosen. Why an Oktoberfest in September? Actually, Sept. 29 falls right in the middle of traditional Oktoberfest in Germany, which runs in Munich from Sept. 22 to Oct. 7. Capitol Hill’s Oktoberfest on Barracks Row features German-themed main stage entertainment, food vendors and a biergarten. Of course, there will be an extensive section with children’s activities and crafts, the most popular aspect of the festival from year to year. We also hope to have a silent auction to serve as a fundraiser for Barracks Row Main Street. We’ll have more details for you in next month’s article.

Events on Barracks Row always rely heavily on volunteers, and the Oktoberfest is no exception. In fact, we need more volunteers than ever to help with set up and tear down, man the children’s activities, check IDs and sell tickets at the biergarten, work the welcome table, take visitor surveys, etc. Volunteers receive free food and beer (if 21 or older) on top of enjoying all that the festival has to offer. If you’ve visited the festival in the past, please consider coming again this year as a volunteer. If you’re new to the neighborhood and are looking to meet new friends and neighbors, volunteering is a great way to do so. Whether you stay for a two-hour shift or all day, you’ll have fun and play an integral role in making community events like these possible.

Truth to tell, we need creative and enthusiastic volunteers all year round – folks who want to share in the vision of a revitalized Barracks Row. There is a huge variety of volunteer opportunities for people of all sorts of backgrounds and talents, and not just for our promotions and events.

Our Economic Redevelopment Committee is currently updating a market analysis study of the area. We will need volunteers who can help us understand our assets, challenges and needs, and then apply this knowledge to help businesses improve their operations. We are also working on a retail recruitment package and a wish list of retailers to attract to the area. We will eventually be asking volunteers to assist with calling these retailers and pitching to them the advantages of locating on Barracks Row. We are always looking for new ways to better support our local and small business owners.

Our Organization Committee needs volunteers to help with writing the Barracks Row quarterly newsletter and press releases. This committee also stuffs envelopes when we send out funding requests or other correspondence. It is busy work, but it sure makes a difference having a few extra hands when we have to stuff, label and stamp 200-plus envelopes.

The Design Committee is currently working on the details of a mural that will go under the freeway overpass at Eighth and I streets SE, and we can always use help with grant writing for other arts projects in the area. Also, we rely on volunteers to help plan seasonal decorations, work with business owners to improve their window displays (and change them often), and utilize ground floor window space for interesting temporary art exhibits. New and creative ideas are always welcome!

If you would like to volunteer for the Oktoberfest, any other future events, or get involved more regularly on a committee, visit www.barracksrow.org and fill out the form under “Get Involved.” Or call 202-544-3188.