CONTACT: Brian Ososky
Director of Marketing & Public Relations
863-734-1210; bososky@boktower.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2013

TD Bank Presents

Fifth Annual Boktoberfest Plant Sale
at Bok Tower Gardens Oct. 19

A FREE Community Event Celebrating the Start of Florida's Gardening Season

LAKE WALES, Fla. – Presented by TD Bank, the Fifth Annual Boktoberfest celebration takes place Saturday, October 19 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bok Tower Gardens and marks the start of Florida’s gardening season. Admission is free. Members of the Gardens get a sneak peek and opportunity to purchase plants Friday, October 18 from 5 to 7 p.m. Visit boktoberfest.com or call 863-676-1408 for more information.

More than 40 VENDORS from across the state will offer a variety of plants for sale including orchids, palms, tropical fruits, Florida natives, ferns, bamboo, roses, heliconias, bromeliads, tillandsia air plants and lilies. Educational vendors also will be on hand from Lake Kissimmee State Park, Happy Hives, Keep Polk County Beautiful, Polk County Master Gardeners, Archbold Biological Station, Ridge Rangers, Florida Industrial & Phosphate Research Institute, and Bok Tower Gardens’ Endangered Plant Program.

“Boktoberfest celebrates the start of Florida’s gardening season,” explains David Price, president of the Gardens. “Plant lovers and gardeners will find a wide variety of Florida plants and learn from experts how to make the most of their home gardens. Attendance at last year’s event reached 8,000 visitors.”

The schedule of GUEST SPEAKERS is as follows:

10 a.m. Ray Cruze, Roosevelt Academy – “Vegetable Gardening”
12 noon Dr. George Fitzpatrick, University of Florida – “Composting”
1 p.m. Greg Kramer, Bok Tower Gardens – “The Doctor Is In: Helping Ailing Plants”
2 p.m. Dr. David Shibles, UF Extension Office – “Insects & Disease of Ornamental Plants”
3 p.m. Rebecca Conroy – “Homemade Herbal Cleaners”

This free community festival has grown to become one of Central Florida’s favorite fall celebrations, with live entertainment, tree climbing, face and pumpkin painting, Biergarten with craft and seasonal beers, authentic German food, silent auction and more.  The Visitor Center, Blue Palmetto Café, and Tower & Garden Gift Shop will remain open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pinewood Estate will offer self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $5.

LIVE MUSIC on Saturday kicks off at 10 a.m. with Lakeland’s own pop/folk/rock band, the Brian Sutherland Trio, who use traditional instruments plus cello, double bass, ukulele, and kazoo to round out their sound. At 12 noon, it’s the ever-popular Jimmy and Eckhard German Oktoberfest Show, a three-member lederhosen ensemble performing authentic German music with sing-alongs, traditional "Ein Prosit" toast, birdie dance, polkas, waltzes and comedy. At 2:30 p.m., classical guitarist Jane Rosenbohm takes the main stage. And at 4:30 p.m., Cross Canyon delivers their brand of country, blues, pop and rock to Boktoberfest-goers wanting to “shake a leg.” At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., there will also be live half-hour concerts from Geert D’hollander and the 60-bell Singing Tower carillon.

The Gardens’ Blue Palmetto Café will prepare AUTHENTIC GERMAN FOOD including bratwurst, Reuben sandwiches, German potato salad, braised cabbage, hot dogs on pretzel buns, and German drop doughnuts with Bavarian crème. Biergarten concessions from Little Joe’s Grille include potato pancakes, bratwurst, chicken on a stick, Italian and Polish sausage, hot dogs, corn dogs, cabbage and noodles, veggie wraps, Greek options with tabouleh and hummus, funnel cakes, and more. A variety of keg and craft beers as well as wines, sodas and water will be available.

ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN include a petting zoo with mini horse, cow, teacup pig, chickens, rabbits, goats and sheep. Face painting, pumpkin painting and airbrush tattoos are available for an additional fee. Pathfinder Outdoor Education will lead Family Tree Climbing from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for $12 per person ages 6 and up. Juggles the Clown performs on the main stage at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

A SILENT AUCTION benefiting Bok Tower Gardens features dozens of unique items: St. Augustine and Miami getaway packages; artwork; gift baskets; restaurant certificates; and tickets to various Florida attractions including LEGOLAND, Fantasy of Flight, the Florida Aquarium, Ringling Museum, the Lakeland Center, and Walt Disney World. Probably the most interesting item being auctioned off is the opportunity to “Spend the Day with Sheriff Grady Judd” where the winning bidder (min. $750 bid) gets the chance to shadow Sheriff Judd for an entire day and get a behind-the-scenes look at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

FREE SATELLITE PARKING will be provided by IMPACT Church and along the Bok Tower Gardens entrance road. Shuttle transportation will be available throughout the day, and carpooling is strongly recommended.

For MORE INFORMATION, visit Boktoberfest.com or call 863-676-1408.

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