SHELBURNE FALLS — Organizers of the first-ever Shelburne Falls Oktoberfest plan to bring family fun while raising money for Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School’s annual trip to Nature’s Classroom.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28, at the elementary school, 75 Mechanic St. The day will include more than 50 craft and food vendors, beer tents from Floodwater Brewing Co. and Pioneer Valley Brewery, a bounce house and arcade games, raffles, T-shirt sales, bake sales and live music. Performances by Fetch and the Barnacles, Wild Bill and Friends, Eric and the Wildfire, and Pizazz Dance Studio are scheduled.

“This idea was born as a fundraising effort that became just a big community event,” explained organizer Flannery Murphy Geier.

The sixth graders’ annual trip to Nature’s Classroom in Maine is expected to cost upwards of $13,000. Parents and teachers typically spend all year raising money to send the class in May, but this year, the parents hope to raise all the money in one go.

“There’s a lot of pressure on parents and teachers to fundraise … so a group of moms came together and wanted to plan one big event that would relieve that burden of having to fundraise all year,” Murphy Geier said. “They want all kids to go regardless of cost.”

Murphy Geier said they hope to raise the full amount, or at least most of it. If all goes well, Shelburne Falls Oktoberfest will become an annual event.

She added that the event is the first Oktoberfest for the elementary school, but as far as the planning committee knows, there have been no other Oktoberfests in the village before, making the event a first for Shelburne Falls.

The parents have been working diligently for months to plan the event, and Murphy Geier said they have been blown away by the community support. Between vendors, businesses donating items for the raffle, and community members volunteering to work at the event, there has been a lot of support.

“We are thrilled to host this event and bring families and neighbors together for a day of fun in support of our students,” Meghan Wells, president of Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School’s Parent-Teacher Organization, said in a statement. “What began as a simple sixth grade fundraiser has blossomed into a remarkable community effort. We hope everyone can join us and help establish what we believe will become a cherished annual tradition for both our school and our town.”

The event is free to attend, but there is no ATM onsite, so anyone who is interested in participating in the raffle or buying from the beer, craft or food tents should bring cash, Murphy Geier advised.

A rain date has been scheduled for the following Saturday, Oct. 5.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.