How to Celebrate Oktoberfest

Beer anyone? Munich's Oktoberfest is one of the largest festivals in Europe, attracting 6 million visitors annually with beer, sausage and song. Despite its name, Oktoberfest takes place during the last two weeks of September and can be celebrated just about anywhere.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Restaurant Dining Guides
• Beer
• Wine And Beer
• Beer Mugs
• Polka Favorites CDs
• Airline Tickets

1. Attend an Oktoberfest closer to home. German restaurants are the first places to find a celebration. German clubs, some churches, language schools, universities and independent groups often hold Oktoberfests as fundraising events.

2. Host your own Oktoberfest party. With a CD or cassette tape of German polka music, you can create the ambience of a typical German beer tent ("bierzelt") from the "Theresienwiese." Remember to stock up on German beer, soft pretzels and sweet mustard.

3. Prepare a German dinner. Typical Oktoberfest foods originating from Bavaria include sauerkraut, potato salad, red cabbage, sausage and, of course, German beer and wine.

4. Teach yourself a few German drinking songs.

5. Learn to polka. Invite energetic friends and learn as a group.

6. Don Bavarian costumes such as leather shorts with decorated suspenders ("lederhosen") or a quaint dress with a gathered waistband ("dirndl"). Borrow from German family members or friends, or try to rent from local costume shops. You'll be the life of the party!

Tips & Warnings

• Germans are proud of their beer, with as many varieties in Germany as there are large villages. Fortunately, many of the German methods for beer brewing have come to North America, so Oktoberfest is the perfect time to sample an authentic German brew or a home-grown concoction.
• Originally, Oktoberfest was the celebration of the marriage between Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12, 1810. The citizens of Munich (Munchen) were invited to the royal event, which took place on the very same fields where Oktoberfest is celebrated today.
• Remember never to drink and drive.

[shortfor]

on 10/1/2009 Das is good stuff. Thank you!

[AmyW]

on 9/22/2008 Goodwill is a great source for inexpensive beer steins. I pick them up all year and have quite a collection by the time I throw my party. Also, name tags with German names are fun. Also, try to find some beer banners and posters at your local liquor store. Cheap Erzgebirge-style nutcrackers are cute decorations. You can find German flags and other authentic items online. Finally, I buy bags of artificial autumn leaves at craft stores and toss them all over the floor to create an outdoors-feeling in my indoor biergarten. Wunderbar!

[kohuether]

on 9/19/2008 It actually occurs longer than the last two weeks of September. It ends in the first week of October. One tip: if you know in advance that you and a large group of people will be going, you can reserve a table - those tents get full pretty quickly (I am talking about the one in Munich...)

[Vanillatte]

on 9/19/2008 I went to Oktoberfest in Indianapolis and took my German Shepherd dog. We couldn't walk 10 feet without people stopping us to pet him.

[missnice104]

on 9/19/2008 Nice article! I'm not a drinker, but I like German food. I like to dance too. Thanks for sharing.