How to Plan a Oktoberfest Party

Sometimes we just need an excuse to throw a party, and there are few excuses better than Oktoberfest. This boisterous German holiday first saw light in the early 19th century and offers party-goers beers, brats (German sausages) and a ton of games and traditions to keep busy. An Oktoberfest party is relatively easy to plan, and even easier to enjoy. Just be careful if you are thinking about making your guests come in lederhosen!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Music
• Authentic German foods
• Tables and chairs
• Beer and steins
• Table settings

Plan an Oktoberfest Party

1. Begin by deciding on the guest list, taking into account how many people your venue can accommodate, as well as how many you can afford to invite. You can then use a website like Evite to send invitations to everyone via email and find out quickly who will be able to make it (see Resources below).

2. Prepare to have an assortment of German dishes for the Oktoberfest party. Sauerkraut, bratwursts and pretzels are all a must.

3. Invest in authentic decorations. Buy streamers, tablecloths and other decorative items colored cobalt blue or white. They are the official colors of Bavaria, the region of Germany where Oktoberfest originated.

4. Use table decorations that are authentic to the holiday, like wheat in a beer stein or lovely autumn flowers.

5. Consider hosting a few party games to keep the guests entertained. Beer stein races are a great choice. Fill each participant's stein to the top and have them race across a specified distance. Whoever has the most beer still in the stein at the end of the race is the winner.

6. Expect to have at least one, if not two, kegs of beer on tap for the Oktoberfest party. Try to choose at least one good German beer (Ayinger and Bitburger are popular), and then one more affordable beer if you need to.

Tips & Warnings

• Try to find a package deal on the beer steins if you plan on offering them for the party. There are plastic steins available from most major party stores, and you can find inexpensive glass steins from any store that sells dining accessories.
• Be aware that Stenos do pose a fire hazard, so if you're hosting your Oktoberfest party at your home then supervise the buffet area just to be safe.
• Put the kegs somewhere where spillage won't pose a slipping hazard: on the grass, in the dirt or on the driveway.