Oktoberfest, former Brewfest, to benefit new pool this Saturday

The Hi-Line Future Foundation (HFF) will host Oktoberfest this Saturday, October 8, at the Lucky Bullet Hole in Malta with beer, food, live music and raffles galore all in efforts to build a new pool in Phillips County.

“The pool is a huge part of the community in the summer time,” said Julia Tatafu, HFF member. “It’s something for them to do and it’s a physical activity. It’s important to all the children who live here, and the Swim Team, and I just can’t imagine there not being a pool here.”

Last July, the Malta City Council announced the City Pool was in such disrepair that it might need to be shut down for the summer. The current issues facing the pool included a failing boiler and the pool’s filtration and chlorination systems. Following a public meeting in July, Malta City Council approved the spending of $31,500 to alleviate some of the pool’s issues, but admitted the fixes were a Band-Aid for the problems and a new pool would cost an estimated $1.6 to $1.8 million to construct. After the public meeting about the pool, a group of volunteers formed the HFF with the intentions of raising money to assist the City of Malta for paying for the pool. Oktoberfest on Saturday will be the second fundraising effort held by the non-profit group as a Family Fun Day event at the pool in August raised over $1,200.

Tickets for Saturday night’s event are $55 per couple, $30 for single tickets and they can be purchased at all local Malta banks, at Malta City Hall and at Farmers and Ranchers. The event tickets will reward buyers with dinner and four beer tickets (more beer tickets can be purchased and the Lucky Bullet will also have their full bar open for other drinks at an additional cost.) CLARIFY WETHER ALL AGES EVENT OR NOT.

Malta Trails Inc. has generously allowed the Hi-Line Future Foundation to Oktoberfest this year and all proceeds from the night will go into a fund to build a new pool in Malta for Phillips County Residents to continue to use.

Doors for the event open at 6 p.m., dinner starts at 6:30, the live auction kicks off at 7 p.m., the bucket raffle and 50/50 split the pot will be held throughout the evening and the Hi-Line Country Band – featuring Randy Rhoads and Darrell Gairrett – will start the live music at 8 p.m.

“The Hi-Line County band is a fun band to dance to,” Tatafu said. “They play a variety of music and they are all songs that people recognize or have heard before. They’re a fun band for all ages.”

Dinner will feature barbequed pulled pork sandwiches cooked by Ray J’s Barbeque while the buns and salads will be donated to the event by Albertsons and Bard Anderson. The event will also feature several different microbrew from provided by Glasgow’s Busted Knuckle. A few weeks back, a few members of HFF traveled to Glasgow to sample some of the breweries microbrews and were impressed with the outcome. HFF member Mary Oxarart said she had small samples of the beers and enjoyed them.

"Each beer had a different taste and they all had a really good flavor," said Oxarart. "I don't really have a favorite, because they were all very good."

Tatafu said volunteers for the night are still needed and if people are interested in helping out they can contact her at 654-4178.

People can call me, text me, whatever the case may be,” she said. “The more the merrier. We need people to serve beer, take tickets, help with the auction . . . and the Swim Team will be serving the food, so a big thanks to them.”

Some of the bucket raffle and live auction items will include gift certificates to local businesses, CLARIFY MORE ITEMS.

“We are hoping that we get great support from this Oktoberfest fundraiser,” Tatafu said. “It is a great cause and it will be a great event.”