Food & Clothes Closet supports Intermountain fundraiser with $1,000 donation

German music, costumes, and games will set the tone for this year’s annual fundraiser for the Intermountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department staged by the department’s auxiliary group, known as the Hot Spots.

The fun-filled event, called “Novemberfest! An Evening in Bavaria,” is set for Saturday, Nov. 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Hot Spots will transform Ramona’s Outdoor Community Center Pavilion at 421 Aqua Lane into a Bavarian festival.

The music and games will be provided by Mal Jaeger and the Edelweiss Band, a San Diego group of five musicians who have been playing traditional and contemporary German music for many years. The performers will be dressed in authentic Bavarian costumes — men in black embroidered Lederhosen, vests and Tyrolean hats, and women in Dirndls. Attendees are also encouraged to dress the part.

“Our goal is to entertain, not to just bore everyone to death with oompah music,” Jaeger said. “We check out the crowd and see if they’re ready for crazy games and contests, such as eating pretzels or holding beer mugs. We give out prizes for various versions of the ‘chicken dance’ and the ruki zuki, which is a German version of the hokey pokey. And we play danceable music, including lots of rock that’s popular in Germany even though we quit playing it 30 years ago over here.”

Adding to the fun will be an auction of donated items and services, which usually includes golf, museum passes, bay cruises, and interesting gift baskets.

This event is the primary annual fund-raiser for the Intermountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department, which has a 125-square-mile response area, encompassing Old Julian Highway, and highways 78 and 79 between Ramona and Julian.

The cost to attend this Bavarian festival is $45 per person and includes a gourmet dinner provided by John Little Catering of Ramona. Of course, no German fest would be complete without beer, which will be available, as well as wine.

Tickets can be purchased online at RamonaHotSpots.com, at the Ramona Chamber of Commerce at 960 Main St., or from any Hot Spots member, and will also be sold at the door.

Donations for the fund-raising auction are still being accepted. For more information, contact Kimberly McLellan at 619-302-8696 or email info@RamonaHotSpots.com.