JOSEPH — One of the founders of Oregon’s Alpenfest will be honored beginning this year with a scholarship funded by proceeds from the event.

Josef “Joe” Ehrler, who died in November, will be honored with a scholarship for a young person to go to trade school, said Alpenmeister Stefan Hasselblad. Ehrler, an electrician, was a Swiss immigrant who came to this country and wanted to bring a bit of his home country by joining with others with a Central European background to take advantage of Oregon’s little Switzerland in the Wallowa Mountains.

Oregon’s Alpenfest has been entertaining visitors and locals in the Swiss-Bavarian style for nearly a half-century.

Hasselblad, who took over the reins as alpenameister last year, said Ehrler was keen on helping young people get started in a trade, thus the scholarship.

“We thought that was what he would want,” Hasselblad said. “We haven’t event been an event that raises a lot of money but we’ll be passing the hat, too.”

The event begins Thursday, Sept. 28 from 6-9 p.m. at Terminal Gravity in Enterprise featuring free live music and the tapping of the first keg of beer brewed especially for Alpenfest.

On Friday and Saturday, events move to the Joseph Community Events Center for beer, bratwurst, bands and local musicians, as well as dancing by the Tirolean Dancers, music by the Polkatones and a chance to try some Bavarian-style dancing while sporting lederhosen and dirndls.

An all-day outdoor Alpenfair at the events center will celebrate German-Swiss culture with German food and beer, live music, games for kids and handmade crafts from around the Northwest. Midday Sunday concludes the event with more of the Alpenfair at the events center.