Presented by Pura Vida Promotions and Wilkinson ERA

By Dale Pennington

If you have readied your stein, but cannot make the trip to Germany–do not worry.  You can enjoy this next best event in the heart of the Piedmont Triad at the historic Körner’s Folly’s 6th annual Kernersville Oktoberfest.  On Saturday, October 1, from 4-7 p.m., the lawn at Körner’s Folly will host a tasting of local seasonal beers, wines, and food.  The annual beer and wine tasting fundraiser benefits the Körner’s Folly Foundation’s mission to restore and preserve Körner’s Folly for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Beer, food, and friends.  It takes only three words to describe this Oktoberfest, thanks to the local business community which has shown Körner’s Folly overwhelming support.  PuraVida Promotions, Wilkinson ERA, and other Triad-area businesses have stepped up to keep Körner’s Folly open for tours and educational programs.  “It is important for us to be involved with the Kernersville Oktoberfest celebration because it is a community event, supporting a great community cause,” said Linda Turlington of PuraVida Promotions.

Local restaurants volunteer their time and energy to offer delicious goodies.  Many local favorites will be in attendance, such as Cake and All Things Yummy providing pumpkin spice and black forest cupcakes; One-Stop will offer their famous chicken and taters, and new this year, Angela’s Ale House will join the festivities with their local fare.  Other food sponsors include: 421 Market and Grill, Hops & Nuts, Exxon Low Price Mart and Grill, Sauceez Fine Foods, and Sagebrush Steakhouse, all serving up decadent local treats.  For beer enthusiasts, many local brews will be available for sampling from The Brewer’s Kettle, Hoots Beer Company in conjunction with Brite Boys Brewing, and new this year, we welcome Pig Pounder Brewery and Kernersville Brewing Company.

Admission is $30 per person and includes unlimited food and beverage tastings, while available.  Vendors will begin serving promptly at 4 p.m., but there is a reason to come early–admission also includes a free tour of Körner’s Folly.  Attendees can tour the remarkable house that their ticket helps preserve.  The house will be open for tours for ticket holders from 1-4 p.m. on the day of the event.

So why does Körner’s Folly host an annual Oktoberfest?  In case the two funny dots over the “o” in Körner’s Folly (an umlaut) did not tip you off, the Körner family and Kernersville share a German heritage.  Joseph Kerner, founder of the town of Kernersville, grew up in Furtwagen, in the Black Forest region of Germany.  Joseph, trained as a clockmaker, set sail for America in 1785 at the age of 16.  He soon settled in North Carolina, where, perhaps seeking kinship with those sharing his native tongue, he found the Moravian settlement of Friedland near Old Salem.  After living in Friedland for 30 years, he purchased 1,000 acres of land at nearby “Dobson’s Cross Roads,” which became known as “Kerner’s Crossroads” and later, Kernersville.  The Kerner family name has been linked with the town ever since.  (Kerner is the Americanized spelling of the original Körner name.)  Today, Furtwagen, Germany is one of Kernersville’s Sister Cities.  You can read more about the Kernersville Sister City Association’s exciting program at the event.     

Many years after settling Dobson’s Crossroads, Joseph’s grandson, Jule Körner, built the iconic symbol of Kernersville –Körner’s Folly– which was completed in 1880.  The home originally served as Jule’s interior design catalogue where clients could come to Körner’s Folly and select various architectural elements showcased throughout the house to be integrated into a custom design.  With 15 different fireplaces, a menagerie of windows and doors, and hand-laid tile designs throughout the home, Jule’s clients had many choices.

136 years later, the house still delights visitors with its whimsical design and stunning detail.  The home sat vacant for a number of years until being rescued by a small group of committed Kernersville citizens in 1970.  Today, the nonprofit organization, the Körner’s Folly Foundation, operates the home as a historic house museum, while working toward restoring the home’s original architectural splendor.  

In light of recent restoration projects and donations, the Kernersville Oktoberfest has a particularly special message for raising awareness for Körner’s Folly.  There is renewed community interest in the wellbeing of the house and enthusiasm for the interior restoration work.  Inspired by the magnitude of the restoration efforts, and determined to see it through, the Foundation is hopeful the event will spur further community awareness and excitement for Körner’s Folly in the coming year.  

Fundraisers like the Kernersville Oktoberfest help to keep Körner’s Folly open to the public, now and in the future.  On October 1, you can support Körner’s Folly’s mission by tasting delicious beers and food in the heart of downtown Kernersville.  This event typically sells out quickly, so we recommend purchasing tickets early.

Want to get involved?  For tickets, sponsorships, volunteering opportunities, and other information please visit www.KornersFolly.org or call 336-996-7922.  Körner’s Folly is open for self-guided tours Wednesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.  Guided group tours are available by appointment.

Special thanks to our current 2016 sponsors:

Wilkinson ERA

PuraVida Promotions

421 Market and Grill

A+ Ready Restrooms

Andy Strand

Angela’s Ale House

BB&T, Kernersville

The Brewer’s Kettle

Brite Boys Brewing

Cake & All Things Yummy

Carmine’s Import Service

Curtis Swisher

Exxon Low Price Mart & Grill

Grass America

Highland Industries

Hoots Beer Company

Hops & Nuts

Kernersville Brewing Co.

Kernersville Magazine

Kernersville Sister City Association

Long Insurance Services

McDaniel and Company

One Stop

OutWest Steakhouse and Saddleroom

The Packaging Source

Pig Pounder Brewery

PMQ Services

Ray Smith

RH Barringer Distributing Co.

The Reuben Rink Company

Sagebrush Steakhouse

Sauceez Fine Foods

Sixty Six Pizzeria Grill and Bar

Solace IT Solutions

Sue Williams

Veritas Construction

Wat-R-Boy