Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce hosts first Oktoberfest

BRIDGEPORT – The newly reconstituted Chamber of Commerce is making its presence felt more and more in the city as members step up to organize community events, the latest a well-attended Oktoberfest in Fireman Park on Sept. 30.

More than 100 residents gathered in Fireman Park for a variety of autumn-themed family activities including face painting, pie throwing, drawing, Tic-Tac-Tie, apple eating, pumpkin decorating and more.

The park which would normally be lightly used and largely quiet on a lazy Saturday afternoon echoed with laughter, shouts, and merriment as youngsters scampered about trying out activities. The pie-throwing exercise was one of the more popular because Bridgeport Elementary Principal and Varsity Baseball Coach Jesse Macy volunteered as a “target” for the pie throw. Sharing the punishment with Macy was Bridgeport middle school teacher Miguel Garza.

As Macy scouted for potential pitchers among the kids who queued up to throw dessert, chamber member Monse Meza loaded aluminum pie plates with piles of whipped cream.

Another line waited for a seat before special education para-pro Darla Castillo whose face-painting table became a quick hit with the kids.

The Bridgeport chamber reactivated after Carlos and Zuni Henriquez moved to Bridgeport in July 2020 as co-pastors of their new Wellspring of Life Church in the Foursquare building at 1300 Foster Ave. By February 2022, Henriquez persuaded every business owner in the city to convene for the revived chamber and begin planning its banner event, Bridgeport Daze, held on the first weekend of June every year. Other events followed including Santa Comes to Town in December and another well-organized Bridgeport Daze last June.

After the Henriquez’s moved out of the area last spring Bridgeport resident Jose Sanchez took over the reins as the new chamber president and the group made the transition seamlessly. That was evidenced by the large crowd that turned out for the chamber-sponsored Easter Egg Hunt in April.

Sanchez said the chamber may do something for Thanksgiving, but those details are still being worked out.

Sanchez said chamber interests are not stopping at the city limits. One of the eventual goals the group supports is the reopening of the Lake Wood Golf Course on the western shore of Lake Roosevelt in Bridgeport State Park about four miles north of downtown Bridgeport.

Lake Woods closed its nine-hole operation five years ago this month citing lack of membership and play.

“I would love to see that; a lot of people would,” said Sanchez of the growing number of players. “Local golfers have to drive all the way to Okanogan (35 miles) or to Alta Lake (21 miles) at Pateros now.”

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483, michael@ward.media