The Kirkland Events Foundation wishes to express thanks to the Kirkland City Council for stepping up and supporting our proposal to produce Kirkland Oktoberfest this autumn.

The inaugural Kirkland Oktoberfest will support those community events that struggle for funding such as the Fourth of July, the Summer Concert Series and the Holiday Tree Lighting. The council supported the proposal for Oktoberfest at their May 7 study session.

The council’s decision has an added benefit: It saves $15,000 from the city budget. Oktoberfest will fund community events, freeing public money for more pressing needs.

We commend the council for having found a win-win for the community and for the city budget.

The Kirkland Events Foundation is a nonprofit organization. We produce Kirkland Summerfest and Kirkland Oktoberfest. Summerfest, Kirkland’s largest festival of art, music, food and family fun, returns in 2013 on August 9-11. Admission to Summerfest is free.

Rob Butcher, Kirkland Events Foundation