By Ted Alan Stedman
If fall is in the air, Oktoberfest can’t be far behind.
The original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, began with a wedding and a surplus of beer. In October 1810, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria declared a 16-day celebration in Munich to commemorate his marriage. And in the German spirit, there was plenty to celebrate with. In old Germany, fall was the time to drink up last season’s beer before the new brewing season started. This tough job spawned the popular Oktoberfest tradition celebrated in epic fashion each year in Munich, the largest beer festival in the world where some 7 million people convene and consume about 7 million liters of beer.
But this side of the Pond isn’t left high and dry. Oktoberfest has blossomed throughout the United States, including these 10 exceptional American incarnations offering a lot more than beer, sauerkraut and oompah.
Boston, Massachusetts
Yeah, Beantown takes its beers seriously. So seriously that the odes to Oktoberfest actually begin in September (Septemberfest?). Enterprising suds quaffers who’ve not yet seen their fill at the earlier Samuel Adams Oktoberfest and Boylston Schul-Verein Oktoberfest can belly up at the Harpoon Brewery Oktoberfest (Oct. 3, 4), hosted by the largest craft brewery in the region. Besides great beer, three stages of live German oompa bands and the infamous chicken dance await revelers. And finally there’s the Harvard Square Oktoberfest (Oct. 12), a single-day event playing homage to the best of German culture with international foods highlighting the ethnic diversity in this area of Boston. Bavarian brews, music, parades and crafts round out this year’s 29th annual event.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Held at Memorial Stadium, the Charlotte Oktoberfest (Sept. 27) is a specialty beer lover’s paradise, with at least 82 breweries and locally made homebrews offering "unlimited" samples of over 300 craft beers (translation: admission price covers all sampling). For its 10th season, organizers have scheduled a killer entertainment line-up that includes bands Southern Culture on the Skids, Sons of Ralph and U-Phonik.
Cincinnati, Ohio
North America’s largest Oktoberfest takes over downtown Cincinnati during the Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, (Sept. 20, 21 ). Held since ’76, the outdoor festival attracts a half-million revelers annually, including many repeats who’ve participated in past events like the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, a Guinness Book record at 48,000 dancers. Beaucoup beers, German music and celebratory frivolities? Natch. But what draws huge praises is the massive culinary staging for grazing Germanophile gourmets. Past examples of gluttony tally 64,000 sauerkraut balls, 56,250 sausages and 1,875 pounds of German potato salad.
Snowbird, Utah
The Snowbird Oktoberfest
(weekends through Oct. 5) is the most scenic celebration going, with a
beautiful ski resort location in gorgeous Little Cottonwood Canyon that
can’t be beat. All the Oktoberfest frivolities are here –- beer, brats,
strudel, music, entertainment, local vendors peddling crafts and wares.
But what’s truly unique is the ski area’s Tram Rides, Alpine Slide,
Bungee Trampoline, and ZipRider that carries adventurers 1,000 feet
down a suspended cable.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
With the nickname "Michigan’s Little Bavaria," it’s a given that the sights, sounds, taste and traditions of the original Munich Oktoberfest rule in Frankenmuth. They do. Experience the best of Bavarian heritage at the Frankenmuth Oktoberfest (Sept. 18-21), the first Oktoberfest outside of Munich to be sanctioned by the Parliament and the City of Munich. Look for German polka, contemporary local music and entertainment, rib-sticking German cooking and … ahh, wiener dog races. Sure, there’s beer — scores of German styles along with standard go-to brews that’ll appease any and all tastes.
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