Dust off the lederhosen and grab a stein. The first ever Oktoberfest is coming to Marion.

Organized by members of Marion's Pythagorean Lodge Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the event will be a traditional German festival with music, dancing, games and all the bratwurst, knackwurst and sauerkraut you can eat. German brews will also be on tap, of course.

“We want to be as authentic as possible,” says Bruce Rocha, Sr. “Masons are traditionalists, so [we like] anything that has to do with tradition.”

The Bavarian celebration began in 1810 to commemorate the marriage of the Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. It eventually grew into a yearly, multi-day bash with parades, free flowing lager, music and other entertainment.

Oktoberfest also shifted to September when the weather tends to be nicer. Keeping an eye on German custom, Marion’s event will be Sept. 13.

German native and Mattapoisett resident Elfriede Blackburn and her American husband Arthur are helping the Masons with their planning.

Elfriede has attended a number of Oktoberfests in her home country and also helped to organize one in Mattapoisett 20 years ago.

She said her kinsmen know about hard work, but they also throw a spectacular shindig.

“The German’s know how to party,” said Elfriede.

Throughout the year, there are a number of festivals in addition to Oktoberfest.

“You can go from town to town and dance and eat. It’s just the way it is over there,” she said.

While the local celebration, to be held at the VFW, will not be the six-day affair that it is in Munich, Elfriede and Rocha said there will be no shortage of fun for the whole family.

“We’re going to be open for eleven hours and we have twelve hours of entertainment,” said Rocha. He added that there will be plenty of German food available as well.

With the nearest Oktoberfests being Pawtucket, R.I. and Cape Cod, the Masons hope to see hundreds attend the event.

“We have expectations that we will be drawing from at least a 70-mile radius,” said Rocha.

Elfriede would also like to see Germans and German descendents in the tri-town embrace their heritage and come out to the celebration. She certainly will be.

Elfriede said and her husband will wear traditional attire. All attendees are invited to wear German garb as well, though it is optional.

Every ticket sold will be a boost for the Masons’ fundraising efforts. Oktoberfest proceeds will go to charitable purposes, including the Angel Fund, a discretionary account to help kids in an emergency.

Rocha said tri-town school nurses, guidance departments and principals can alert the Masons to a need, even as small as replacing a pair of glasses for a child whose family cannot afford new ones.

Usually the Marion Masons raise funds within their own ranks, but Rocha said, “In this day and age, the need is so great … that we need to go to the public.”

Tickets and more information will be available at oktoberfestmarion.com.