Octoberfest comes early to Marshalltown

What do you get if you have an Oktoberfest event during the last weekend of September? Oktemberfest, of course. Marshalltown is hosting the family fun and food festival today and tomorrow with a Grand Parade kicking off at 10 o’clock this morning.Carolyn Anderson is an organizer of the Oktemberfest. She says all of those high school marching bands will be squaring off in a competition later today. Anderson says the annual Oktemberfest celebration features a variety of entertainment and events.Other events include a car show, a bike ride and a 5-K and 10-K walk/run that was held earlier this morning. There are also go-kart races at the Iowa International Raceway in Marshalltown. Anderson says another popular event is the chili cookoff. Chefs gather to start their bubbling brews at 9 o’clock this morning.For more details, call 800 697-3155 or surf to “www.marshalltown.org”.