When you think of fall and beer, the great German beer festival may spring to mind. Most of us have heard about it, but how many of you know what it is and how it originated?
Oktoberfest is a 16-18 day beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. This year the festival will be Saturday, September 22nd—Sunday, October 7th. It is one of the most famous events in Germany and is the world’s largest fair, with more than 7 million people attending every year. A few fun facts about the festival are visitors drink 5 million liters of beer and eat about 600,000 sausages and other German goodies!
Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12th, 1810. The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate their marriage. The main draw to the festival was originally horse races, not beer.
Today, Munich’s annual celebration is still held on the original site. Some modern changes are the giant brewery-sponsored beer halls that can hold up to 5,000 people apiece, they’ve moved the event ahead to September to allow for better weather conditions and horse races no longer take place.
Not planning a trip to Germany any time soon? In recent history Oktoberfest has made it’s way to the US. There are locations across the nation where you can raise your stein and celebrate German heritage with music, food and beer. Once such place is our very own Snowy Mtn. Brewery!
On Saturday, October 6th the Snowy Mtn. Brewery will hold their own Oktoberfest celebration. Join us in our courtyard for music, traditional Oktoberfest games (like the German freeze dance and pumpkin penny toss), lots of fresh brew and great German food. Don’t forget to wear your lederhosen, you may just win best dressed!