How to Celebrate Oktoberfest in Chicago

There are few cities in the United States that embody the spirit of Oktoberfest quite like Chicago, Illinois. Oktoberfest celebrations throughout the city range from informal get togethers at the The Berghoff to month-long celebrations at the Chicago Brauhaus. The Oktoberfest hosted by St. Alphonsus Church follows closely to the traditions of the two century old German festival.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Umbrella
• Camera
• Small bag for souvenirs

Appreciate Chicago's Roots Through Oktoberfest

1. Locate St. Alphonsus Church in relation to your hotel or other destinations. The church is located on the north side of Chicago and can easily be accessed by the city's public transit system. The church's website features detailed directions to help Oktoberfest celebrants find their way (see Resources below).
2. Sample the humorous musical styling of The Alpiners several times throughout the Oktoberfest weekend. This group dresses in lederhosen, hands out sheets to help you sing along to their songs and perform the German slap dance to get the crowd excited. Expect to participate heavily in an Alpiners show and take pictures to share with friends.
3. Listen to your favorite pop songs covered by Maggie Speaks, one of the more popular traveling bands in Illinois. This group typically performs the first night of Oktoberfest and takes request from the audience to get the festival started on a high note.
4. Help the kids in your family celebrate Oktoberfest by attending the Kinderfest portion of the celebration. Kinderfest takes place on Saturday afternoon and children can engage in activities like face painting or the dunk tank. There are also activities that help kids celebrate German culture during Oktoberfest.
5. Take a break from celebrating Oktoberfest by listening to bands like Sixteen Candles and 1 Hit Wonders. Both bands hail from Illinois and provide music from the 1980s that has proven extremely popular to audiences at St. Alphonsus Church.
6. Consider extending your stay in Chicago to celebrate Oktoberfest in other parts of the city. The United-German American Societies of Greater Chicago hosts a German Day and Von Steuben Parade that act as good primers for Oktoberfest. You can also celebrate Oktoberfest throughout October by heading to the Chicago Bauhaus or the Edelweiss for nightly food and drink specials.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit the interior of the St. Alphonsus Church while you are enjoying Oktoberfest. The church opens its doors to visitors who are interested in viewing Old World architecture and other elements of German heritage in the city. Speak with volunteers about the history of the church, since many are attendees.