SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Student Prince and The Fort Restaurant's Mighty Oktoberfest begins Friday night. Festivities celebrating German culture and food will begin at 5:30 p.m. Mayor Domenic Sarno will starts things off by tapping the ceremonial keg. Dakin to welcome dogs from Hurricane Helene: Discounting adoption fees to create room in shelter Mayor Sarno states, “I am honored to once again join with my good friend Peter Picknelly and the Yee Family at our iconic Student Prince and Fort Restaurant for the annual Keg Tapping to kick off Oktoberfest!  I fondly remember the days of celebrating this annual tradition with my good friends the late and beloved Andy Yee and the iconic Rudi Scherff who sadly left us too early but are always in our memories.  Hey, I’ll take the Wiener Schnitzel and Pu Pu Platter to go!”   “There’s nothing like Oktoberfest to welcome the fall season, and we are proud to keep the tradition alive in 2024 with one of the most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations around,” says Peter Picknelly, co-owner of The Student Prince & The Fort. “Join us for non-stop live music, good times, food and drink, and a barrel of fun in downtown Springfield!” List of bands at Oktoberfest FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 Berkshire Mountain Wanderers The 413’s Trailer Trash SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 Berkshire Mountain Wanderers Brass Attack KISS Forever LIVE EVIL Tickets are available online at the Student Prince website and they can also be purchased at the door. Local News Headlines Driver rescued after two-vehicles crash in Springfield intersection What kind of winter is expected in Massachusetts Here’s when Massachusetts usually sees snow Report shines light on “troubling trend” at Mass. hospitals WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.