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Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest – All around the world and right around the corner from you.

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Oktoberfest LionIt’s officially on! The Oktoberfest has started in Munich this past weekend.

Have you watched or perhaps even been part of the traditional opening ceremony? It’s always a fun event, starting with the Grand Entry Parade with the Oktoberfest landlords and their festive horse carriages loaded with beer barrels to the entertaining procession of the various costume groups, historic riflemen, flag throwers and many other performers … all on their way to the famous Oktoberfest grounds at the Theresienwiese.

Oktoberfest has come a long way since the day when Bavaria celebrated the wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig in October of 1810. Today, you can consider it almost a worldwide event in the sense that you can find and celebrate at some Oktoberfest near you almost anywhere you are on the globe. In the U.S. alone, there are plenty of them you can attend with the largest one in Cincinnati according to Wikipedia. The list is explosively expanding every year.

oktoberfest-Many of the ‘Oktoberfests‘ in California listed in our last year’s post are still happening this year with many new ones popping out all over. In fact, the media is full of suggestions of where to go (Bay Area Events & SoCal Events ), so we didn’t dedicate a separate post to all the listings this year.

However, we’d like to highlight very traditional ones, which have been known to be in California for a long time.

One of them is the Oktoberfest at the Phoenix Club in Anaheim, which has put on an Oktoberfest for more than 55 years! This year they started out their festivities right at the same time as the original Oktoberfest in Munich, on September 21st.

You can celebrate Oktoberfest at the Phoenix Club every weekend until October 28th, and starting on October 7th – you can enjoy a delicious German Sunday brunch just before you dive into the rest of the fun. End your Oktoberfest outing with a hearty meal and a large ‘Mass’ at their beer garden. Check out their website for more information.

Oans, zwoa, g’suffa! Prost!

 

Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest

Images: Pixabay.com

Looking back at the 2017 Oktoberfest in Munich – A Report in Pictures

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Auf Wiedersehen Oktoberfest

– A photo of Matthias-Pschorr Strasse from the Bavaria Statue –

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Greetings from the Wiesn!   For more than two hundred years, the Oktoberfest has been the highlight of Munich’s calendar, and is considered the world’s largest folk festival.  This year, the weather has been very cooperative so far, with mostly fair weather greeting the estimated three million visitors to the Theresienwiese in just the first week and a half.  By the end of the 18 days, an estimated 6.2 million visitors enjoyed the Wiesn.

Typical food offerings like Hendl, Brezn, and Spätzle have been abundant, and a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes are also available in many tents.  In the Ochsenbraterei, sixty (60) Ox were already cooked and served by the Fest midpoint (in comparison to 55 by the same time last year), and by the end of the Fest, 127 had been served!

This was my second time auf die Wiesn;  I was out here last year for the marriage of two dear friends, and their celebration coincided with Oktoberfest, so it was practically a requirement that we make a trip to the Wiesn part of my visit.  I immediately knew that I’d be returning again and again, and that I would want to share my experience with others.

A quick tour of the perimeter to get a feel for the Stimmung of the fest revealed the usual revelry and an abundance of souvenirs including the famed Gingerbread Hearts (Lebkuchenherzen).

– One of the more robust offerings of Lebkuchenherzen –
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We then made our way to the Ochsenbraterei for lunch and a Maß, and while the Ochsenbraterei is best known for its meat offerings, there were substantial vegetarian offerings noted on the menu.

– The front entrance to the famed Ochsenbraterei –
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– Interior of the Ochsenbraterei, which seats nearly 6000 people (with another 1600 outside seats) –
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– Rows of empty mugs await filling –
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– Hungry fest-goers are served –
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Our next stop was the Löwenbräu Festzelt, where we enjoyed a bit more food and a change in atmosphere.  Even at 5pm, the mood in the tent was starting to change, but it was almost on cue at 6pm, when the tent felt more crowded, and more and more people began singing and dancing on the benches.  The “Oktoberfest-Barometer” (available via the official Oktoberfest App) can predict when the Wiesn might be busiest, and the App can also inform on how full various tents are.  The App can be downloaded from www.muenchen.de/app .

– The front entrance of the Löwenbrau-Festzelt, which seats 5700 inside and another 2800 outside) –
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 -The interior of the Löwenbräu-Festzelt –
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– A tray of food headed to hungry fest-goers at the Löwenbrau-Festzelt –
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 – Traditional breads, including the giant Breze –
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– Festgoers in Tracht in the Löwenbräu-Festzelt –
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–  The servers working hard to keep everyone happy, with just a few of the estimated 7.5 Million Maß served –
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One of the treats this year was the Oide Wiesn – a traditional and historical corner of the Wiesn.  An estimated 480,000 visitors enjoyed this look back into history as well as the constant cultural performances in the Festzelt Tradition like partnerdances, Schuhplattler Dances, and the Whip cracking (Goasslschnalzer).

– Festzelt Tradition, with a capacity of 5000 inside (and an additional 2700 outside) features a large dance floor for performances –
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– Festzelt Tradition offered more traditional feel and plenty of Tracht –
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– The Alphorn performance was a crowd favorite –
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This year’s Fest ended on 03 October 2017, and I’m already looking forward to kicking off next year’s event on Saturday, 22 September 2018.  For more information about Oktoberfest, you can visit the official site at www.oktoberfest.eu.

Until then, Prost!

All Images: Copyright ©2017 www.splitsecondimaging.com

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Christopher Chin is an accomplished underwater videographer and writer who has traveled extensively and speaks several languages. He studied German at the University of California, Berkeley, and quickly fell in love with the German language, culture and people. In early 2006, Christopher co-founded The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE), and currently serves as its Executive Director.

Christopher is an internationally recognized expert in ocean policy and conservation issues, and has provided valuable and persuasive testimony to various governing and legislative bodies in the U.S. and in Canada, and he has had the privilege of addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations on two separate occasions.

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Oktoberfest in Germany Versus California

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OKTOBERFEST IN GERMANY VERSUS CALIFORNIA

For many Germans, the most wonderful time of the year is back – the German Oktoberfest.  For two weeks, from September 16th till October 3rd, people from all over the world will be visiting the most well-known German festival in Munich.  From 1810, when the Oktoberfest was founded until today, the festival has become one of the most popular ones around the world.

Visitors in traditional Trachten (women in Dirndls and men in Lederhosen) can enjoy the atmosphere in various big and small beer tents that serve the notorious Mass, a one liter beer.  I have been to the original Oktoberfest once when I was 18. One of my best friends from High School and I decided to do a road trip to Stuttgart, where my friend had relatives.

Those relatives happened to have plans to visit the Oktoberfest that year, and so they invited us along.  Before that day, I only had caught glimpses and impressions of the festival from magazines and documentaries on TV.  Since I knew that a lot of German celebrities attended the event each year, I was intrigued to check out the hype myself.

My friend’s relatives luckily had a table reserved in the VIP area of one of the beer tents.  Unlike the majority of guests, we weren’t dressed up at all. I can still remember the anticipation I felt walking up to the beer tent, feeling somewhat special due to the fact we wouldn’t have to wait in line like the poor souls who weren’t blessed with a table reservation like us.

But once we entered the sacred inside, I felt a slight breeze of disappointment coming my way.  It was crowded.  It was stuffy.  It was loud.  Don’t get me wrong- of course I knew that there would be a ton of people, which would automatically result in a lot of noise.

But for me, it was just too over the top.  I didn’t catch a glimpse of any hot and poppin’ celebrities because there were none there (I guess our tent wasn’t really a hotspot for the stars) nor did I get into the German folklore music that was blasting out of the speakers.

Once we were seated at our table, I felt a little bit more comfortable since it was way back in the corner of the tent, and we weren’t surrounded by the immense crowds of people. The moment my mood improved for the better was when we decided to get food.

I have always been a foodie, so it was a no brainer for me to give the traditional Munich cuisine a try. I went with one of the typical Bavarian dishes: white sausage with sweet mustard and pretzel.  Once the food was served I started to enjoy the atmosphere a little.

The food was delicious, and I was fascinated by how the Oktoberfest servers managed to carry about ten Mass at the same time while squeezing through the tight crowds.   I personally declined to drink one of the famous one liter beers, but I was impressed by how others were able to chug them down. After a while, my friend and I had soaked in enough of the beer tent experience and decided to partake in the hustle and bustle outside.

Besides the many beer tents, the Oktoberfest also hosted a fair with carnival rides, games, and food booths.  While I am usually a big advocate for these things, I wasn’t feeling it at all that day.  It was just too crowded, and the fact that the side lawns were occupied by drunkards who were passed out on the grass just killed the vibe for us.  We eventually decided to take off and declared the Oktoberfest as a personal no-go.

I never returned to the original event in Germany, but I decided to give an American Oktoberfest in Orange County a chance. This time, I only went with Americans.  And what can I say; I ended up having a blast.  The event started out slow in the beginning, but we had arrived fairly early to avoid the entrance fee, and not many people had showed up yet.

But as the night progressed, the event got busier (not as crazy as the uber-crowded tents in Munich) and my friends and I enjoyed participating in activities such as the chicken dance and the polonaise.  I first was hesitant about joining in the dancing fun until one fellow German guy came up to me and asked me to dance.  It turned out that he was living and working in Irvine, and we had an instant connection.

The rest of the night felt like it was progressing in fast forward.  As they say, time does fly by when you are having fun.  The band that played German folklore kept an upbeat rhythm all night, and games such as beer chug kept the crowd entertained.  My newfound German friend and I enjoyed dancing and talking together, and we later on exchanged information to set up a date aside from the Oktoberfest.

I did return another year, that time with a couple German friends in tow.  They were all a little hesitant of what to think about the Americanized version, but we still had a good time together. As of now, that was the last time I attended any kind of Oktoberfest.  But I hope all of you who are going to the original one in Munich or here in the U.S. are going to have a wonderful time and get to experience this well-known part of German culture if you wish so.

A little fun fact: The term O’ Zapft is translated means “it’s tapped.  According to the Oxford Dictionary, “At noon on the first day of Oktoberfest, the Mayor of Munich traditionally taps the first keg of beer, exclaiming the above phrase, which marks the official opening of the festival,” (http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com)

Images: pixabay.com
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Anne-KathrinAnne-Kathrin Schulte, is a contributor for CaliforniaGermans.com. She writes on her personal experience of the American Dream as well as on working as an au pair in CA. She was born and grew up in Düsseldorf, Germany, where she completed her degree as a state-approved Kindergarten teacher. After her au pair engagement in the US and a quick return to Germany she decided to attend university in California and moved back to the United States. She has been living in Southern California since 2011.

If you would like to contact Anne-Kathrin, please send an email to californiagermans(at)gmail.com and place her name in the subject line.

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O'zapft is! Find Your Oktoberfest in California

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This Saturday, September 16th, it’s official: It’s Oktoberfest Time!

At 12 noon (CET), Munich’s mayor will tap the first Oktoberfest-beer-barrel and exclaim “O’zapft is” !  And the ‘world’s largest beer festival’ can begin!

But you don’t have to fly to Munich to get into Oktoberfest mood. We have quite a few choices to celebrate Oktoberfest here in California, too. If you live in Northern California or Southern California, you for sure will find some Oktoberfest festivity even close by your neighborhood.

We highlighted a few ‘Oktoberfests’, that we thought might peak your interest.  Check them out below!

Souther California

PHOENIX CLUB – Anaheim SoCal

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The Phoenix Club in Anaheim features Orange County’s oldest and most authentic Oktoberfest.  OKTOBERFEST 2017 will take place every weekend Sept 22-Oct 29!

Join the party and enjoy authentic delicious German food (including Schweinshaxen and bread dumpling), Great selection of Imported German beer on tap, Polkas and Prosts in our 12,000 sq. ft. Festzelt and an acre of Biergarten. “We will have you Partying like a German!”

Traditional bands play every day!  Our Schuhplattler perform Saturdays and Sundays. The special events on the first weekend include the Official Keg Tapping Ceremony and the Opening Parade.

SHOOTING GALLERY: Our Phoenix Schützen (traditional air rifle club) will have their rifle range open to the public on Saturdays (6:00 PM) and Sundays (1:00 PM) Oct. 1 – Oct 29.

PONY RIDES: Our Neighbors at the Del Rio Stables and Equestrian Center will host $5.00 Pony Rides for the kids all Sundays in October.·         

Choo-Choo: Sundays are family days, free choo-choo rides noon to 4pm, free balloon artist one noon to 4pm

ADMISSION:  $10  -Adults on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Phoenix Club members with card $5 –  under 18 enter FREE!

WHEN: Sept. 22 – Oct 29, 2017

WHERE: 1340 S. Sanderson Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92806

Special Music Entertainment: Various bands will perform. The local band The Express Band, Alt Rosenheim Schuhplattler and Goassischalzer from Bavaria, Germany; Musikapelle Rottenbuch from Bavaria, Germany and Odenwäder Dirndljaeger from Bavaria, Germany

Oktoberfest at JEANETTE’s EDELWEISS in Newbury Park

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Jeanette’s Edelweiss is starting Oktoberfest the original way. Like in Munich also here Oktoberfest is rung in by the official tapping of the first beer keg. Instead of the mayor of Munich it will be the Consul General of Germany, Joerg Neumann, who will perform the traditional ceremony on Saturday, September 16 at 4pm.

Oktoberfest Season at Jeanette’s Edelweiss will be from 9/16/17 – 10/29/17 and Jeanette’s Edelweiss Polka Band will play polka and authentic German Oktoberfest tunes. Live Oktoberfest Tunes and International Music with Festmeister Hans & Accordion Diva Gigi will be part of it as well. Prepare yourself for lot’s of dancing, fun & Oktoberfest games and the following seasonal events:

Every FRI & SAT – 5 pm: Munich style Oktoberfest Party with Fun, Games and Live Music by the Jeanette’s Edelweiss Polka Band featuring Festmeister Hans.

Every Sunday 4 pm: Family Fun Oktoberfest. Kids Oktoberfest with Gigi & Festmeister Hans. Games & Fun for the family.

Every Thursday 5 pm: Oktoberfest Party!

Besides Oktoberfest entertainment be ready for a real German culinary feast. Jeanette’s Edelweiss features authentic German cuisines by renowned German Chef Rocco Suckert from Cologne, Germany. Everything from German brats, Schnitzel, Sauberbraten, Ham Hocks, Rouladen and of course Pretzels and Gingerbread hearts can be yours! And you’ll have the choice of 12 imported German beers on draft.

WHEN: Sept.16 – Oct. 29, 2017

WHERE: 2160A Newbury Road, Newbury Park

Admission: FREE  – But Advanced Reservations are Recommended!  Reserve your table: info@JeanettesEdelweiss.com (or 805-498-7300).

EL CAJON Oktoberfest – San Diego County’s oldest and most traditional Oktoberfest

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The German American Societies of San Diego invite to their yearly traditional Oktoberfest! Two weekends full of authentic foods and original entertainment.

Come and enjoy authentic German food, such as bratwurst, ox-on-the-spit, potato salad, potato pancakes, sauerkraut, red cabbage, pretzels, and a variety of German pastries. There will be  a great selection of German beers and liquors, and soft drinks and water, to enjoy with your friends and family!

Listen to the original group “The Guggenbach-Buam”, who came all the way out from Baden-Württemberg, Germany. These talented, entertaining musicians dress in traditional clothing, and play a variety of German music, just as you would hear in the beer gardens in Bavaria. Enjoy songs such as the chicken dance, polkas and waltzes, and all the famous beer-drinking tunes. 

Watch traditional folk dancing performances, compete in our numerous games and contests, check out vendor and craft booths, and treat your kids to their own Kids’ Zone! Bring your family and friends to El Cajon and experience a real German Oktoberfest!

Admission:   $10 Friday and Saturdays; $5 Sundays.

WHEN:  Sept. 29, 30 and October 1 & October 6, 7 and 8, 2017

WHERE: German American Societies, 1017 S. Mollison Avenue, El Cajon, 92020

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

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Oktoberfest at ESTHER’s GERMAN BAKERY in Palo Alto

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Esther’s German Bakery is celebrating  its 10th annual Oktoberfest !

Oktoberfest – Kick off is around noon on Saturday, September 30th.

Outside on the front patio you’ll see the food tent serving the Oktoberfest menu and plenty of tables for trying the seasonal Oktoberfest beers.  If you like more shade, check out our ‘Biergarten’  in the back.

For entertainment Esther’s German Bakery will have a favorite local German band playing festival songs from 3:00 – 8:00pm. Traditional German beer games are on the plan all night long. Come and meet some neighbors and celebrate Oktoberfest the traditional way!

On Sunday, in case you missed Saturday’s main event, the bakery will be hosting their Hangover Brunch. Both the front patio and back biergarten will be open. It’ll be back to the daily menu then, but you’ll still have plenty of seasonal beer choices and tasty German treats, and German music will of course welcome you inside. Make it an Oktoberfest weekend!!!

WHEN: Oktoberfest Day is on Saturday Sept.30 with the ‘Hangover Brunch’ following Oct. 1, 2017

WHERE: 987 N San Antonio Rd, Los Altos, CA 94022

Entrance: Free

SCHUG WINERY – SONOMA – The Oktoberfest serving wine!

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Beer is not your thing, but you love wine? Try the Oktoberfest (Wine-Fest) at Schug Winery in Sonoma. Owned by a German family, Schug Winery is proud to invite to an Oktoberfest of their own kind. The winery was founded by Walter Schug, who came to CA in the 60’s to make wine European style.

Overlooking the Sonoma Valley you’ll be sipping Federweißer and enjoy plenty of traditional Oktoberfest entertainment. Get ready for Polka and accordion music, raffles for adults and children, a photo booth, Bean Bag Toss and more, while indulging on German specialties like Zwiebelkuchen, German cucumber salad, potato salad, German apple strudel, sausages, and of course fresh pretzels.

Children will love the Arts & Crafts tables and will go home with a free pumpkin! Special: Polkageist West is lined up for our live music.

WHEN: Sept 30 from 11am- 3:30pm

WHERE: 602 Bonneau Road in Sonoma, CA 95476.

Entrance: $50 (kids 12 and under free!)   – Ticket link : http://www.schugwinery.com/

OAKLAND NATURE FRIENDS – Oktoberfest 2017

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Die Naturfreunde Oakland invite to their yearly Oktoberfest in Oakland on October 1st, 2017!

It’s their biggest festival of the year!  So, get ready for fun Oktoberfest entertainment while taking in stunning views of the Bay area. Authentic German food, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase throughout the day.

Entertainment:

MUSIC & DANCING: The Bajuk Trio with the Schuhplattler Dancers performing a variety of German and Austrian folk dances. Music starts at 1pm. Let your dance out!

OTHER ACTIVITIES: horseshoes | board games | candy roulette | playground | or just lounge in our alpine-style sun chairs soaking up the wunderbaren views of the SF Bay!

ADMISSION: $15 per adult (free for kids under 14). (Discount code “earlybird” available for a limited time.)

BUY TICKETS online or show up early to ensure entry!

PLEASE BRING CASH: Cash is the preferred method of payment. We do not accept debit cards or checks at the Oakland Nature Friends Club on the day of the event. There is no ATM on the premises.

PARKING: Parking in the ONF lot is free but fills up quickly so arrive early. However, there is plenty of additional parking on Joaquin Miller Drive. We provide a free shuttle bus service (1PM to 5PM every 15 minutes) that will drive guests from the intersection of Butters and Joaquin Miller (near the fire station) to the festival grounds and back again. 

MORE OKTOBERFEST:

Placerville Oktoberfest – Sacramento –

Come Dance Zee Polka at the 7th Annual Placerville Oktoberfest on Historic Main Street Placerville

Placerville, CA, September 8, 2017—Come dance zee polka at the 7th Annual Placerville Oktoberfest on historic Main Street in Placerville on Saturday, September 16th from 3-8pm—presented by the Placerville Downtown Association.

WHEN: September 16th, 2017

Entrance : FREE

Oktoberfest at GACC – German American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco 

For the fifth time the German American Chamber of Commerce will bring Germany’s most famous fest to the Bay Area.

Enjoy a night of delicious German food andOktoberfest beer, provided by Ludwig’s German Table.   Blow Musik! will set the right tone with their traditional Bavarian polkas and our headliner Bayern Maiden will rock the house once more!

WHEN: September 28th, 2017, 5pm-10pm
WHERE: Fort Mason, San Francisco

Admission: Buy your ticket online 

 Oktoberfest at Los Lagos Golf Course
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LLGC in partnership with Gordon Biersch is bringing Munich’s famed festival to the San Jose community for all to enjoy!!  Live German music, dancing, traditional food, and beer!
Band: The Deutscher Musikverein  (SFgermanband.org)
WHEN:Saturday, October 14, 2017, 05:00pm – 09:00pm
WHERE: Los Lagos Golf Course, 2995 Tuers Road, San Jose, CA 95121
ADMISSION: $20.00 includes food, 2 beer samplers, and music! Tickets online at www.playloslagos.com under Event Registration.
Enegren Brewing Oktoberfest in Moorpark
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Enegren Brewing Co. features authentic German Food with BIGGER BETTER PRETZELS and German music all day long with the German band Hazelnuss-Das Music .  Make sure to get there early for the official barrel tapping of our Oktoberfest Märzen Lager and to get your limited edition steins!
WHEN: Saturday October 7th: 11am – 10pm
WHERE: 444 Zachary St, #120, Moorpark, CA 93021
ADMISSION: Free

Oktoberfest in Downtown Los Angeles

Oktoberfest DTLA is not your traditional Oktoberfest. You’ll find local breweries and California beers, but you can also still grab an authentic German Beer from Paulaner, the #1 Oktoberfest beer in the world! Food varies from traditional bratwursts and pretzels to Thai-Mexican fusion.  Lot’s of music entertainment: Music ranges from awesome local bands like The Tom Nolan Band and rockabilly groups to beat boxers, with Hazelnuss Das Music band closing both nights to get everyone dancing to some awesome Oktoberfest tunes.

WHEN: October 21 & 22, 2017 (12pm -18pm)

WHERE: Pershing Square, 532 South Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013

ADMISSION: General admission is Free, and all ages are welcome. Tasting packages will be available for sale, but you’re free to come and just enjoy the music as well.

Oktoberfest at Old World Huntington Beach

WHEN: Sept. 10 – Oct. 29, 2017

WHERE: 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach

Admission: $7-$25 tickets online or at the door

Oktoberfest at Alpine Village Torrance

WHEN: Sept 8 – Oct 28, 2017

WHERE: 833 W Torrance Blvd, Torrance, CA 90502

Admission: $10- $60 tickets online or at the door

Images: Copyright ©All Images are property of the respective organization, Phoenix Club, Jeanette’s Edelweiss, German American Societies of San Diego, Esther’s German Bakery, Schug Winery, Oakland Nature Friends.

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"O'zapft is" in California- Oktoberfest 2014 is Calling

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Oktoberfest 16einzug-wiesnwirte-2013

O’zapft is !

Yes, its time again for Oktoberfest! But it’s only September you may say…

That’s correct. And originally Oktoberfest had actually been in October, precisely on October 17, 1810. On that day the royal Bavarian newlyweds, crown prince Adam_Pferderennen_Oktoberfest_1823Ludwig von Bayern and princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen, got honored with a royal horse race on the “Wiesn” (Munich’s Theresienwiese). This horse race was also the highlight of the weeklong wedding festivities .

From that time on the horse race event turned into a yearly “Volksfest”, a public festival, which eventually got moved to late September instead of October. Over the years the event became bigger, and eateries and fun rides were added. The duration of the event got extended as well, from one day to several days to the now two weeks of Oktoberfest.

Custom is, that the last week of the two-week Oktoberfest is still in October!

Today Munich’s Oktoberfest is the biggest “Volksfest” (public festival) in the world and attracts about six million visitors yearly!

Oktoberfest in California

Celebrating Oktoberfest doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be in Munich. One can find some kind of Oktoberfest version almost anywhere these days. This is also the case for California, where Oktoberfest festivities are happening up and down the State.

Here are some suggestions, that were brought to our attention. An extensive listing of Oktoberfest sites can be found here.

Now get out your Dirndl and Lederhosen and …auf geht’s!

GACC Oktoberfest 2014

The GACC Oktoberfest in San Francisco

The German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) will bring Germany’s most famous fest to the Bay Area again this year – September 25, 2014!
Join in for an authentic evening with delicious German food and Hofbräu beer provided by San Francisco’s restaurant Speisekammer. The Oktoberfest bands Blow Music! and Bayern Maiden will rock the house again!

You can buy Schmankerl Tickets for $55 that will treat you to Pretzel, Schweinebraten (Roasted pork in beer sauce) or Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and potato salad. One litre of beer is included, and you can keep the Masskrug (1l beer mug) as a souvenir !
The other option is a beer ticket admission for $25, that will treat you to 0.5 l of beer including the mug to take home.

WHEN: September 25, 2014 | 5 – 10 pm
WHERE: Fort Mason, Conference Center (Building A)
TICKETS: Available on the GACC website, or click here

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Oktoberfest LA

Los Angeles OKTOBERFEST

Los Angeles Oktoberfest ® will open its doors again this year for a two-day event, October 4 & 5 at the Beverley Hills Country Club.
Enjoy live entertainment from Bavarian Dancers to a Stein Holding Contest and much more. Traditional food and beer will be available for purchase while lively tunes and leading sing-along’s of old time drinking songs will keep you going.

At the opening ceremony city officials will welcome everyone with the traditional Tapping of the Keg. This Bavarian custom will officially tap the first keg of German beer by hammering a wooden mallet with a bronze spout into the keg — and then…”O’zapft is!”

General Admission is $35 per person ( 1liter glass stein, and 1 fill up with your favorite beer)

Tickets to this event are available here. All monies raised will benefit local charities Vista Del Mar & Chill Los Angeles.

WHEN: October 4th & 5th, 2014
WHERE: Beverly Hills Country Club, 3084 Motor Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064
TICKETS: Available at LAoktoberfest.com or click here

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Oakland Nature Friends & Tourist Club Oktoberfest

Oakland Nature Friends and Tourist Club hosts its Oktoberfest, Sunday October 5th, from 12-6pm.
This is a fabulous family event. In addition to all the fun, food, drink, live music, and dancing of Oktoberfest, there will also be hikes, horseshoes and yodeling this year, and additional games, dances, and other activities especially for our younger members and guests.

There is something for everyone of all ages at the Oakland Nature Friends’ Oktoberfest!

Tickets to the event are sold on the Club’s website and are $10 ( plus $0.75 online processing fee) for adults. Children under 14 are FREE.

WHEN: Sunday, October 5, 2014 • 12pm – 6pm
WHERE: 3115 Butters Drive, Oakland, California
TICKETS: Available at the Club’s website or click here

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Photos: München.de, GACC, LaOktoberfest, Oakland Nature Friends & Tourist Club

MILKA WORLD in MUNICH

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SAMSUNG

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A Milka Adventure Right in the City

 
Do you love Milka, in fact Milka chocolates?

If you can answer this with a definite YES, then Milka World in Munich will be heaven on earth for you. In 2012 Milka World opened doors on an entire floor of the Schrannenhalle right behind the Viktualienmarkt, and has become a new Munich attraction.

I had heard about it, but on my recent trip to Munich I just had to check it out for myself.  I couldn’t believe my eyes…

SAMSUNGA whole store decorated in the style of an Alpine hut, with little niches and windows that seem to look out on the Alpine mountain panorama, and walls of wooden shelves just filled with the tempting chocolates of the whole Milka sortiment!

SAMSUNGBut that’s not all! Now you can not only eat Milka, you can be dressed in it as well! If the Milka Dirndl, by designer Lola Paltinger is too fancy for you to visit the present Oktoberfest, you may also choose from t-shirts sweatshirts, jackets, vests, jeans and for the guys of course the perfect Lederhosen. I actually forgot if those were lilac as well…

But there is more. Your dog can slurp water out of a Milka bowl, while your baby is sipping on his Milka bottle, and your toddler checks out tasty Milka chocolate SAMSUNGsnacks packed away in her Milka lunchbox.  And, picture this, while you start getting ready for a day at the Oktoberfest packing your Milka backpack (which is quite cute actually! ), you grab your i-pad and stash it away in the oh-so-fashionable Milka Alpine style i-pad cover that looks like a Janker (Tyrolean jacket) for this electronic device!

milka coffee machineIf you like, you can live ‘Milka Lifestyle‘ all the way, and organize your entire household in Milka look and feel, while you pretend inhaling fresh alpine air with every stride through your Milka home. Milka cappuccino machine or toaster anyone?

Fascinated I am asking the saleslady in her cute lilac dirndl, if there were more Milka worlds planned for in other German cities. She looks at me bewildered that someone could even voice such a question, and smilingly replies: “There is only one earth, one god and one Milka World! “

What a statement ! Now I was the one looking perplexed. Stunned by such profound words I slowly walked towards the exit…

The merchandising kingdom has conquered Germany!

SAMSUNG

Deadly Bacteria Found In Waste Water Of Warsteiner Brewery

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Warsteiner Beer Bottle

Oktoberfest gets underway in less than a week, and while it is typically seen as a great season for the beer industry, one German brewer is fighting off concerns over a bacteria found in their wast water that has infected more than 165 people and killed two.

Warsteiner beer is one of the top five beer brands in Germany and abides by the strict Reinheitsgebot first introduced in 1516, but their reputation is now at stake after the deadly Legionella bacteria was discovered in the waste water pumped out by the brewery.  Now tourists wanting to visit the famous brewery are being told to stay away from the town in an effort to stop the disease from infecting more.

As soon as the outbreak occurred in the town of Warstein, a Warsteiner spokeswoman was quick to reassure the public that their “products are safe”, but have now grown quiet after it was revealed that the source was in their own waste water.  Despite their quick silence, North Rhine-Westphalia environment ministry spokesperson, Frank Seidlitz, addressed the concerns and stated that “the Warsteiner brewery is not for the time being seen as the original source”

Whether or not the Warsteiner brewery is found to be the breeding ground for the Legionella bacteria, officials have been making it clear that the beer is completely safe to drink.  Water temperatures reach a high of 100 °C (212 °F) during the brewing process, which goes far beyond the 60 °C (140 °F) killing temperature for the bacteria.

Source: Financial Times
Photo: Robin Geschonneck [Flickr]

Article Source: GermanPulse

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Beer Bottle Shortage Occurs in Munich Less Than 2 Weeks Before Oktoberfest

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Munich has experienced an unusually warm summer this year, and with the hot temperatures came an increase in beer consumption.  Although the increased sales are great for the breweries, there is a downside… a shortage of beer bottles and crates.  With the Munich Oktoberfest less than 2 weeks away, supermarkets are having a hard time filling the shelves and brewers are literally begging consumers to bring back their empty bottles.

Heiner Müller, manager of the Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr brewery made a plea in Munich’s TZ newspaper saying ”Dear Munichers – bring back your crates.  We need our empties!”.  Even Hofbräu is feeling the pain with a shortage of tens of thousands of bottles.  Hofbräu spokesman Stefan Hempl warned that “at the moment we could have a situation where we don’t have any dark beer for a few days.”

Oktoberfest season is usually one of the best times of the year for Germany’s many breweries, so it makes sense that they would begin panicking.  In the case of Hofbräu, they are telling retailers that they will only fill orders when their empties are returned.  While Germany has made it easy for consumers to recycle their used bottles, it often doesn’t help those who are enjoying a nice cold one on the go during the summer months.

Source: The Local
Photo by Ricky Romero via flickr
Article Source: German Pulse

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Muenchner Oktoberfest 2010- 18. September bis 4.Oktober

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The Oktoberfest in Munich from Ferris wheel
Image via Wikipedia

Jetzt ist’s bald so weit! Das  Oktoberfest 2010 in Muenchen zaehlt die Tage bis zur Eroeffnung: 4 Tage und 0 Stunden und 59 Minuten bis das 177. Oktoberfest mit einem feierlichen Einzug die Tore oeffnen wird.

Wer mehr ueber das Oktoberfest erfahren moechte und den Eroeffnungs zeremonien beiwohnen moechte, findet auf www.oktoberfest.de die neuesten Updates.  Die Oktoberfest webcam kann uns ‘Kaliforniern’ zumindest das Gefuehl geben wir sind ein wenig live dabei…

Fuer eine Liste mit verschiedenen Oktoberfest Feierlichkeiten hier in Kalifornien, click on the following link: “Celebrate Oktoberfest in the Area”

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OKTOBERFEST in Muenchen – “OZAPFT is’ “

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Auf geht’s zur Wiesn!

Als waschechte,  gebuertige Muenchnerin darf ich es natuerlich nicht verpassen unser Muenchner Oktoberfest  zu erwaehnen. War es doch fuer viele Jahre meines Lebens Familientradition zumindest einmal waehrend des Oktoberfestes bei der Ochsenbraterei vorbeizuschauen und eine lecker Portion Ochsenfleisch mit Kartoffelsalat zu verspeisen! Eine Mass Bier (damals fuer die Eltern 🙂 )bzw. Radler und die traditionelle Brezn durften dabei natuerlich auch nicht fehlen. Tja, dieser Tage kann ich nur in meinen Erinnerungen schwelgen und die Wiesn von Kalifornien aus auf dem Internet verfolgen…

Wer wissen will was da so ab geht und was es an Neuheiten gibt,  kann sich auf der eignen Oktoberfest-Website aufs Genaueste informieren. Oktoberfest Souveniere gibt’s bei www.wiesn.com und wer sein Muenchnerisch/Bayerisch etwas auffrischen will, dem sei das Wiesn dictionary ans Herz gelegt!

Wer’s noch schaffen will bei der Wiesn live dabei zu sein, sollte sich schicken. Die Wiesn ist nur noch bis zum 4. Oktober offen und der Eintritt ist frei! ….Unerhoert fuer uns Wahl-Kalifornier; denn hier in Kalifornien zahlt man naemlich einen Eintritt fuer die Orange County Fair oder Los Angeles County Fair, die uebrigens ebenfalls am 4. Oktober die Tore schliesst. 

Wer hier in Kalifornien etwas in Oktoberfest Stimmung kommen moechte, kann einmal unter dem California Oktoberfest Event Calendar nachschauen, wann und wo ein Event in naechster Naehe stattfindet.

Also, noch viel Spass beim Feiern.  Prost!