For anyone interested in a beer and a bratwurst or a taxidermic toad and a tie-dyed T-shirt, Hickory's Oktoberfest is the place to be.
Saturday's crowd milled around the craft booths and made the most of their chance to throw back a frosty mug of Orange Zippy and munch on a Parisian funnel cake while listening to a blistering tuba solo during a set by the Foothills Oompah Band.
The weather was just about perfect and families made their way around Union Square with children in rucksacks and tiny dogs wearing polka-dotted dresses riding in strollers.
Overseeing the fun and ensuring the revelers' safety was the Hickory Police Department.
Hickory Police Sgt. Brett Porter said this year police have a new tool to help them keep the peace — a bright green scissor lift capable of putting them 40 feet in the air — a perfect vantage point for keeping an eye on things.
The lift, donated by Sunbelt Rentals for the duration of the festival, is decked out with spotlights, video cameras and binoculars. "We thought it might be a good deterrent for any illegal activities," Porter said.
The idea to get a law enforcement lift came about because there were some problems with rowdy teenagers last year. When Sunbelt Rentals agreed to donate a lift for the weekend, it seemed like a perfect solution.
"Last night it worked like a charm," said festival chairwoman Tracy Nestor.
Over the clatter of the train slowly making its way through the festival, Porter said he's been happy with the way Oktoberfest has gone so far and he's confident things will continue to go smoothly today.
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