Octoberfest/Oktoberfest in the US

davestlouis · Sep 26, 2010

My darling wife dragged me to the "Oktoberfest" in a local park Friday night...Obenheimer Express Band playing oompah music under the big tent, people wearing pseudo-lederhosen and drinking beer out of huge clear plastic mugs(no glass containers allowed). There are several Oktoberfest celebrations around St Louis...is this an anomoly or is this celebrated in other parts of the US?

I've never attended the real Oktoberfest in Munich, probably never will, but this was a lot of fun.

http://www.saintcharlesoktoberfest.com/entertainment-schedule.html

The Lonely Navigator · Sep 26, 2010

We just got a German restaurant in town and I think they planned some Oktoberfest stuff - they've actually been here for a few months, but I've never eaten there yet.

There's several other German restaurants that I can recall (though some I don't know if they exist anymore) that would do something relating to the Oktoberfest.

This state has a large portion of German ancestry so to hear of some Oktoberfest shindig going on somewhere isn't unusual.

Chasseur · Sep 26, 2010

Its pretty common and becoming more so. I always joke with my German friends that just as everyone in the US becomes of Irish decent in March so they can eat, drink and be merry, in late September/early October everyone become of German decent to eat, drink, etc.

Pilgrim · Sep 27, 2010

My town, Fort Collins Colorado, is commonly referred to as "the Napa Valley of beer". We have multiple microbrewers here which include New Belgium (Fat Tire), O'Dell's, Fort Collins Brewing and many other smaller operations.

Oktoberfest is big here, and in Denver. As a fan of good beers, I heartily approve!

Harp · Sep 27, 2010

Chasseur said:
Its pretty common and becoming more so. I always joke with my German friends that just as everyone in the US becomes of Irish decent in March so they can eat, drink and be merry, in late September/early October everyone become of German decent to eat, drink, etc.

...aber ein Irlander bleibt irisch sogar wahrend Octoberfest.

Pompidou · Sep 27, 2010

There's an Octoberfest at a local church and I was considering attending. I have my doubts. I mean, at this point, I would go just to support my town, but I really would like there to be a healthy selection of beer. I'm on a mission to try every beer. I'm not even close, but I'm enjoying the effort.

V.C. Brunswick · Sep 27, 2010

Here in Southern California there's two big Oktoberfest venues: Alpine Village in Torrance (L.A. County), and Old World Village in Huntington Beach (Orange County). Both are European-themed shopping and dining complexes with the old country architecture and a superb restaurant/beer hall. Their Oktoberfest events both feature live oompah bands from Germany. I haven't been to either Oktoberfest in years though I live not too far from Old World Village. I think I might go this year.

1961MJS · Sep 27, 2010

Redneck Octoberfest

Hi

We lived in Decatur AL from 1990 until late 1994, and attended Octoberfest in Birmingham one year. The brats were good, the beer was good, the music was different. I heard three sets of Billy Ray's Achy Breaky Heart played by a German Ompah band, German as in From Germany. And here I thought Europeans had taste... lol

Their regular polka stuff sounded normal. I still can't believe I heard Acky Breaky Heart played by a Polka band.

Later

Puzzicato · Sep 27, 2010

Pompidou said:
I'm on a mission to try every beer.

It's good to have a hobby! I don't like many beers, so I tend to just stick with the ones I do like.

I have heard that Oktoberfest in Munich is very touristy now, so I don't think I will ever go.

dnjan · Sep 27, 2010

We have a German-influenced pub here close to the University. For Oktoberfest, he brings in as many Oktoberfest (and Oktoberfest-style) beers as he can. I think he had ordered 30 different types. So far, he has had 11 on tap (he goes through the last Saturday in October, since we are on the quarter system and students dont start back to classes until Wednesday).
Drink a litre mug of at least 12 different types of oktoberfest beer, and get your name on a plaque on the wall, and you also get a German litre beer mug.

Hepville · Sep 27, 2010

Chasseur said:
Its pretty common and becoming more so. I always joke with my German friends that just as everyone in the US becomes of Irish decent in March so they can eat, drink and be merry, in late September/early October everyone become of German decent to eat, drink, etc.

Don´t mistake all of us "Krauts" with the bavarians... and many of them would call themselves Bavarian first and German in second... it´s not saying Free State Bavaria for nothing

Undertow · Sep 27, 2010

I've always said Americans just need one tiny excuse to start drinking and partying.

We have an "Oktoberfest" party in Des Moines, but it's held in September, and it's just people getting drunk (much the same for any given holiday, sports event, etc).

I personally partake in October beers, German preferred, but I do that on my own time.

fortworthgal · Sep 27, 2010

I think some of the local bars here do Oktoberfest type celebrations, but we just do our own thing at home by enjoying some German beer and cooking up some fine German cuisine (schnitzel, potato pancakes, kraut).

filfoster · Sep 27, 2010

Oktoberfest Zinzinnati

Cincinnati Ohio has what is described as the largest Octoberfest celebration outside of Munich, a 'sister city'. Beginning Friday evening, on the second weekend in September, the main streets are blocked off, and booths are set up featuring draft brews, available in tin pails of various sizes, and assorted artery clogging German food specialties for about five blocks along our Fifth Street. During the week leading up to this bachanalia, which lasts until Sunday evening, there are barrel rolling and beer stein carrying contests and a 'wiener dog' race (Dachsunds with foam buns affixed to them somehow).
The 'chicken dance' is ubiquitous and a group chicken dance is led each year by a celebrity 'host'.
In past years whatever Wittelsbach who would be King of Bavaria but for that unfortunate 1918 thing, has visited to kick off the festivities. It is a huge deal-over 500,000 people or so attending during the event each year.
Amazingly, by Monday morning, it's all cleaned up.

Accross the river, Covington, KY has a smaller version along its 'Mainstrasse' village area.

Most years, these alcohol related accidents help divert our attention away from our lackluster sports teams (Go Reds! Go Bengals!).

davestlouis · Sep 27, 2010

God almighty, I grew up in Zinzinnati and lived there until I was 18...and have never been to the Oktoberfest in Cincy or the one in Northern KY. Shame on me for not even thinking of it. Given that everything in Cincy is named for Germans (even the slums are called "Over the Rhine") I should have thought of it.

thsiao1 · Sep 28, 2010

Tempe, AZ throws a huge Oktoberfest annually at Tempe beach park..... The dam collapsed... so the lakes gone. Pretty sure the Oktoberfest is still on though.

V.C. Brunswick · Sep 28, 2010

When I think of all these polka bands "direct from Germany" performing at various Oktoberfests throughout the country I can just picture this conversation occuring in Germany.

"Hey, Klaus, doing any work during Oktoberfest?"

"Ja, we have a gig in America.

"So do we! Where in America?"

"Kalifornien."

"Verdammt! Sehr gluecklich. They're sending us to Newark, New Jersey!

Hepville · Sep 28, 2010

Again: Please don´t mix this Oktoberfest thing up generally with German traditions... it´s a local thing beside many other traditions and celebrations.

What would you think if we would make a feast here overseas with Texas BBQ, corn pone, Cajun music, bull riding and we would call it "American Indipendence Day Party"?

...not so god, eh?

Flat Foot Floey · Sep 28, 2010

Haha Hepville. It's no use. Put on your Lederhosen and dance the polka.

I have never been to the Oktoberfest. I am from the Ruhrgebiet. I don't know what tradition would be similar to this here. We just drink our beer and make no fuss about it. I also don't think that I like the bavarian beers so much.

Ok now I am thirsty.

filfoster · Sep 28, 2010

Gemutlicheit!

Hepville said:
Again: Please don´t mix this Oktoberfest thing up generally with German traditions... it´s a local thing beside many other traditions and celebrations.

What would you think if we would make a feast here overseas with Texas BBQ, corn pone, Cajun music, bull riding and we would call it "American Indipendence Day Party"?

...not so god, eh?

Ja! Sehr gut! Alles gut, y'all!

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