TULSA, Okla. – Thousands of people flock to Oktoberfest to enjoy music, German delicacies and a sip of beer, but how accessible is the festival?

The large festival takes place in multiple areas on the west bank of the Arkansas River near 21st St. Some areas have paved sidewalks, but others are unpaved and not level.

That’s where organizers said some extra planning needs to happen.

For one man, the lack of accessibility has deterred him from the festival in recent years. That changed this year, because he wanted to give it a try.

“When I came here, because this was my first time, I was actually concerned about accessibility,” said wheelchair user Austin Ritter.

When 2 News spoke to him, he was near some local craft stalls. In his wheelchair, he said he navigated Oktoberfest with ease.

“Everything is accessible, including the bathrooms and the food, where you want to sit with your friends,” Ritter said.

He is pleased that the event organizers have made an effort to address accessibility. This also applies to the temporary sidewalks in the off-road areas.

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“I’m sitting in a chair that weighs almost 500 pounds. They can support my weight very well, so it was actually very easy,” Ritter said.

2 News asked if he had any concerns about the festival’s accessibility.

“The only thing I can think of that needs some adjustment is just where we’re sitting right now, these booths with personal people, selling their homemade stuff. I’m not physically able to actually reach their booths,” Ritter said .

He’s talking about the curb in front of some stalls, which prevents him from getting close.

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He said he would like to get closer to talk to vendors, but the curb prevents that. He suggested organizers add a few ramps for wheelchair users to use in those areas.

We presented Ritter’s suggestion to Oktoberfest Board of Directors member John Hickey.

“Well, I’m glad you brought that up. That was one of the things, that’s the feedback we’ve gotten from a number of people who are having difficulty getting access to the vendor tents and we’re going to address that address in the future,” Hickey said.

He says that they have worked hard in recent years to accommodate everyone at the multi-day festival, and he and the other board members were very proud of that.

“The thing about this festival, it’s about the community. And the community is the most important part of this and anyone who is in the community who has the opportunity to access the festival and be a part of it and participate in it to take it and enjoy it makes us proud,” Hickey said.

One of the most important questions Ritter had to ask was whether he would return.

“Absolutely without a doubt. I couldn’t even think about not coming back,” Ritter said.

Organizers said they are always looking for more ways to be accessible by addressing issues like curbs.

If you have questions for the Oktoberfest crew about accessibility, click here.

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