Oktoberfest
by Orielle Heilicher, Tastemaker in Residence
October conveys thoughts of pumpkins; (pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin pie, pumpkin carving, you name it), warm tea, comfort food, and you guessed it, beer. October brings Oktoberfest. A time for beer, or more appropriately ”bier”, drinking outside in 40-degree weather, dressed in layers of flannels and down jackets.
During the last weekend of September, I attended Oktoberfest in La Crosse, Wisconsin with some friends. The environment was packed, more packed than you would ever expect a Wisconsin event to be. There were busses running back and forth from the grounds, with beer filled passengers singing and making exciting conversation with whoever happens to sit next to them.
As we arrived at the parking grounds, there was a great exodus of busses, headed towards Oktoberfest. As we entered, groups were handing out free beer koozies to accompany the endless amounts of drinks being consumed inside the fest. Inside the fest, the live folk, German, country and mesh of music filled the air, as the crowd danced and drank beer after beer. The booths serving beer were bustling with workers, frantically filling up pints, pitchers, and cups of beer. Beers ranged from generic beers in the can, to Surly Brewing, and even White Claws.
Beyond the beer, lively conversation, and uninterrupted music, the German bratwursts and German food selection was one of the highlights. The best German food I had that weekend was spätzel. A warm, garlicky, buttery, pasta made simply with eggs, flour, salt, and water. It had to be the best-drunk food you could ask for. I downed the bowl of hot delicious food in less than five minutes. Food is not to be missed at Oktoberfest, and can indeed be what aids the overall, German cultural experience.
The atmosphere of Oktoberfest is something you cannot miss. I have never witnessed so many people with as high of energy and as much love for beer, Wisconsin, and the Green Bay Packers, as I have at Oktoberfest. My advice, come with plenty of cash and your best dance moves, show up to impress.
Oktoberfest’s happen all over the country, not to mention back in the motherland, Germany. I had the privilege to attend Springfest (Oktoberfest in the spring time) in Munich, Germany, where I wore the traditional dirndl fit with braids and a two-liter beer in hand. If you have the chance to attend the real thing in Germany, I highly recommend it; but if you have an Oktoberfest happening in a city near you, go. It is worth all the car rides and cheap beer you could imagine. Oktoberfest is now my favorite autumn outing, not including pumpkin carving of course, but it is a must-do annual autumn activity with friends and family.
