On September 19, Oktoberfest Youngstown brought a little bit of Bavaria to Downtown Youngstown, filling Penguin City Brewing Company with German music, food, beer, dancing, contests, and plenty of gemütlichkeit!

For MARQUEE, however, this year’s celebration was also something of a homecoming.

Aundréa and MARQUEE originally created Oktoberfest Youngstown in 2013 as a fundraising event to benefit the programs and services of the Autism Society of Mahoning Valley.

Then MARQUEE Art Director Agata Khoury created the original brand identity, giving the event a distinctive personality that has remained relevant and recognizable for more than a decade.

In 2026, we had the opportunity to build on that foundation by creating a dedicated website for Oktoberfest Youngstown. This allowed us to expand the original brand’s personality through engaging graphics, photography, and storytelling. The site also became a central home for entertainment schedules, activities, event information, and the traditions behind the celebration.

Working collaboratively with the team at Penguin City Brewing Company and regional entertainers — rather than simply filling time slots — we focused on creating a day that flowed, with German music and dancing, food and beer, contests and interactive activities … all woven together to keep guests engaged.

It proved what we preach: a great event brand isn’t just something people see. It’s something they experience.