Lederhosen, polka music, bratwurst, sauerkraut, and pretzels. All of these and more can be found at Oktoberfest, an annual German celebration. This year marks the fourth St. Peter area Oktoberfest, held Thursday, Sept. 25 through Saturday, Sept. 27 in the city parking lot No. 5 at Grace Street and Minnesota Avenue in downtown St. Peter.
Oktoberfest began in Munich, Germany in 1810 and has been going strong ever since. Often called “The World’s Biggest Fair,” Munich’s festival is the largest and longest in the world. Munich’s Oktoberfest began Saturday, September 20 and will run for 15 days. This particular festival always ends on the first Sunday in October Attendance numbers for Munich’s gathering reaches into the thousands.
Harry Hunt, a former Ambassador and this year’s Festmiester for St. Peter’s Oktoberfest, was in charge of starting the festival Thursday at 5:00 p.m. His other duties include being the first to tap the keg and test the beer, leading the march on Friday from Patrick’s Bar to the Fest grounds, and leading the parade at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, which also starts at Patrick’s and ends at the grounds. Everyone is welcome to watch the parade or even join in if they want. Hunt will be meeting and greeting people who attend the event, wearing his lederhosen of course.
In a town as small as St. Peter, just about everyone knows everyone. But the citizens don’t necessarily get the chance to see each other very often. An event such as Oktoberfest brings people together.
“It opens up the door to meet and greet people again. Celebrations get people out and visiting people again,” Hunt said.
The gates open at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. St. Peter’s festival includes both traditional and non-traditional music, a sauerkraut eating contest at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, a bean bag and bocce tournament, a petting zoo, a classic car show, and events for children. Oktoberfest buttons, which admit the wearer to all three days, of the festival, are available for $5 from the St. Peter Chamber office, St. Peter Ambassador, or at the gate of the event.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Hunt said. “I think it will be a lot of fun. Every heritage has a way to celebrate.”
Visit the St. Peter Oktoberfest 2014 Facebook page or the St. Peter Chamber of Commerce website for more information on Oktoberfest and other upcoming events.
-Kim Krulish