KANDIYOHI COUNTY — It was a full day of celebrating the fall season, craft brews, pumpkin decorating and polka music as New London hosted its 10th annual Oktoberfest and Lowertown Market, while Intution Brewing in Willmar hosted its Hoptoberfest and a pop-up tattoo event with Rooted Ink.
In New London, the Lowertown Market kicked off festivities for the day, with a wide variety of unique and local small businesses ranging from Mother's Cupboard to Nerdy Knits and the Holstrom Haunt, folks had plenty of local goods to browse throughout the downtown New London area.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
Over in Willmar, Intuition Brewing held its own unique twist on Oktoberfest with its own hoopy version, Hoptoberfest. Highlights from the event included Rooted Ink holding a pop-up tattoo event inside the brewery. Outside, the street was closed off, allowing for folks to sit outside and enjoy brews and live music from Andrea Limoges.
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At Goat Ridge Brewing Company in New London, folks were busy celebrating 10 years of Oktoberfest with polka music artists Gary on the Accordion, the Alpensterne Duo, along with Americana artist Blue Loon Band and jazz tunes from The Jason Minke Quartet. The full day of beer drinking also featured the ever-popular steinholding competition, where Nick Dahlen won with a time of 7 minutes, 39 seconds for a new record among a crowd of dozens of competitors.

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

Macy Moore / West Central Tribune
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Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

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