If you can’t wait until October for the feel of Oktoberfest, you can celebrate early at the German American Social Club for the crowing of Ms. Oktoberfest. The event will be held tonight, Saturday, July 28, and is open to the public.

It is a semi-formal event, said Teresa Kohl, chairperson.

“There will be six young ladies competing for the finals out of numerous applicants,” she said. “The winner will be reigning over the two weekends of actual Oktoberfest at the club. She’ll be present there, talking to people. The club also has a float in the Edison Parade of Lights, and she will be featured there, too. As part of her duties she will also attend the two ‘garten fests’ we will have in the winter, and make different appearances throughout the year promoting the club.”

Ms. Oktoberfest will receive cash, jewelry, a gift certificate from Zak’s Jewelers and many other prizes, Kohl added. There also will be a runner up and a second runner up.

“It’s a great event for our club,” said Kohl, who has been a member of the German American Social Club for 17 years. “This is the 24th year for the pageant.”

Dinner will be available for purchase from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., with the dinner special being beef stroganoff, at a cost of $6 for members and $10 for guests.

The pageant itself begins at 8 p.m.

Music will be provided by the Manni Daum Duo.

Judges are being brought in outside of the club’s membership. Former Cape Coral mayor Eric Feichthaler will be one judge, along with the president of the German Club in Naples, and officials from the Honorary Consul of Germany, Southwest Florida International Airport and the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau.

The German American Social Club is on Pine Island Road, about 1/4 mile west of Chiquita Boulevard. The phone number is 283-1400 and email Info@GASC-CapeCoral.com.