It’s early morning Thursday, still more than 48 hours before the start of Frisco’s Oktoberfest, but Andy Grogger is already up to his elbows in minced meat, potato dough and flour.

Grogger and his local Oktoberfest team are preparing more than 150 Haschee Knoedel. The potato-dough dumplings with a savory meat filling are traditionally served with sauerkraut and washed down with beer, the beverage of choice when it comes to Oktoberfest.

Along with the dumplings, Grogger will be dishing up a variety of traditional grilled sausages, roast pork, schnitzel, pretzels, and plenty of apple strudel for desert when the festivities begin at about 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Frisco Nordic Center. Grogger said he’s even catering to vegetarian beer lovers by offering Kasnockerl, another traditional dish of hand-made noodles sauteed with onions and parsely and topped with cheese.

There’s probably nobody in Summit County who is better qualified to put on an Oktoberfest than Grogger. His experience includes a four-year stint at the Munich Oktoberfest working for one of the big grilled sausage stands in the Bavarian metropolis.

Locals may know him from his time running the Kaltenberg Castle in Vail’s old gondola building, or when he was dishing up the tastiest goulash on this side of the Danube at Fritz’s, a former eatery at Keystone’s River Run village.

This edition of the Frisco Oktoberfest will feature beer from the Wartsteiner Brewery, in business since 1753. Just like at the original Oktoberfest in Munich, the first keg of beer will ceremoniously be tapped by the mayor of the Frisco, Bill Pelham, who said he might even be able to dig up a traditional Bavarian hat for the occasion.

Grogger said a big part of creating a proper Oktoberfest atmosphere is getting people to participate in various traditional events, including beer-stein holding contests, leg wrestling and, yes, even the Chicken Dance. Those Austrian Guys will be performing live music in the beer tent and outside on the grass, and there will also be tunes from the Summit Concert Band as well as dancing with the TV Edelweiss, a group that specializes in Bavarian and Austrian folk dances.

The fest also has its own limited-edition glass beer mug. Grogger said there are only 400 of the steins available first-come, first serve.

If Grogger makes some money on the event, the proceeds will benefit the Summit Nordic Ski Club. Grogger is encouraging people to carpool to the event with a designated driver. The nearest Summit Stage stop is across Highway 9 at the hospital.