Yesterday’s Oktoberfest event in downtown Fredericksburg drew 8,900 people, said Matt Simmons, president of Capital Ale House, which put on the third-annual event outside the company’s Caroline Street restaurant. That was down from last year’s attendance of 10,500 but up from the first year, when about 7,500 came. Simmons said yesterday’s slightly lower turnout compared with 2010 may have been due to overcast skies. But he said the event went well, and that there weren’t the same long lines for food and beer as in past years.

Here is an encore presentation of Fredericksburg Mayor Tom Tomzak tapping the ceremonial keg to kick off yesterday’s event: