Get ready for an evening filled with great fun, great food, plus plenty of music and dancing! In short, a night brimming over with lots of good cheer: STMA’s Annual Fall Fundraiser, Artoberfest 2010. This year’s event, scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 30, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., features a German Beer Garden theme.

The event promises hearty German food, including a whole roast pig and juicy bratwursts served with sauerkraut and rich potato salad plus plenty of beer and wine to wash it all down. And don’t forget your dancing shoes; you’ll need them to dance those calories away to music provided by Chip Lyness of Lake Oconee’s DOCK 103.9 WDDK FM fame! In his role as DJ, Chip will play a variety of oldies but goodies dance music and a selection of German songs.

Other highlights include a raffle, door prizes and a silent auction offering hand-crafted items, jewelry, and works of art, plus many other exciting items and services provided by local businesses. This year’s grand raffle prize is a fabulous hand-engraved monogrammed sterling silver cuff bracelet custom made for the winner. The bracelet, graciously provided by Marguerite Copelan and Preston Small and created by master silversmith Jim Small, is valued at $750. It is suitable for a man or woman. The second prize is a $100 gift certificate for STMA’s Gift Shop; third, a bottle of fine wine. Raffle tickets are priced at $10 each; $25 for three. You need not be present to win. So if you’re ready to “roll out the barrel,” just mark your calendar and come join us for an evening filled with gemütlichkeit in a setting showcasing the astonishing, prolific art of the German-American artist, Steffen Thomas. Recommended attire is casual with a German flair.

Admission to Artoberfest 2010 is $35 per person. For reservations/admission, call the museum at (706) 342-7557. A guest list will be at the door. All proceeds benefit STMA’s Arts Outreach Program offering year-round art education to families, students and individuals in our tri-county, Lake Oconee community.

We offer our sincere thanks to the following whose generous support made this event possible: Bank of Madison; David P. Crawford, CPA; DOCK103.9 WDDK FM; DreamTeam  Technologies, Inc.; Georgia Power – A Southern Company; HouseSmart; Jim Boyd and Associates; Lafarage Aggregates and Concrete; Macon Garment; Madison Studios; Morgan County Citizen; Steffen Thomas Art Representatives, LP; and Smith Communications, Inc.

The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art is located at 4200 Bethany Road in Buckhead. It is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more details and directions, call (706) 342-7557 or visit www.steffenthomas.org.