“Get out your lederhosen! Starch your dirndl!” urged the flyers. St. John the Evangelist Church in North Naples hosted an Oktoberfest celebration on Saturday, bringing a little bit of the Bavarian Alps to the flatlands of Southwest Florida.

The repeat appearance of the celebration was presented by the Knights of Columbus Council # 11281, who hope to make this an annual affair.

“We’ve had an incredible turnout, much more than last year,” said Bill Warvel, who helped organize the event. The family-friendly celebration offered $20 group price admissions that covered an entire family, and one price included all the rides, the musical entertainment, and parking — everything other than food and, of course, beer.

The food included sausages and hotdogs from the Johnsonville store, the company’s first-in-the-nation retail outlet, and a pig roast with a whole pig. Inside, kids lined up for popcorn, and the St. Matthew’s House catering arm cooked up schnitzel and spaetzel, goulash and brats. The beer came from taps conveniently mounted right on the side of a mobile beer-vending truck, an option that would be very popular on vehicles taken to tailgate parties at football games if more dealers offered it.

Rides included motorized swings, turtles that spun youngsters in gentle circles that were nevertheless thrilling to the too-young-for-grade school set, and an enormous bounce house. New this year, a train ride took riders around and around the grounds behind the church. Kids also competed to see if they could ring the bell by swinging an enormous hammer down in the classic strong man competition, and strapped in and climbed high on the rappelling wall brought by Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies.

There was music both inside the fellowship hall, and outside under the big tent. Inside, Sounds of Yesteryear, a five-piece brass band with three horn players, pianist and drummer played traditional Bavarian lieder, songs such as “In Munchen Steht Ein Hofbrau Haus,” (in Munich there is a beer joint, loosely translated), and the classic “Edelweiss.”

The musicians, featuring multi-instrumentalist Wes English playing German tunes on his English baritone horn, and Jana Boger hefting a tuba that was bigger than she was, actually did wear lederhosen or, in Boger’s case, a dirndl. It wasn’t all oompah, though, as the band occasionally took a break from strictly Oktoberfest music to throw in a little Dixieland.

“Oh yes, New Orleans is part of Germany,” said English. “It’s south Germany — very south.”

Boger also put down her horn and came out onto the dance floor to lead a spirited folk dance, guiding a ring of dancers who clasped hands, came together in a tight circle, and then spun around and around. Kids including Charlie Matthews, not yet 2 years old, improvised their own dance steps, racing around the room with the inflatable toys they had won as prizes in the games outside, and providing a boost to the entertainment.

Outside, Bob Lech played another traditional instrument, the accordion. With the miracle of backing tracks, his (invisible) band played on even when he took a break.

Proceeds from the Oktoberfest were slated to benefit St. Matthew’s House, the homeless shelter in East Naples, and the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee.