Oktoberfest

The above image is my Oktoberfest set made in the PetCity1 game.

Oktoberfest takes place in the last part of September and originated in Germany. It began in 1810 to celebrate a royal marriage:

“The occasion for the first Oktoberfest in 1810 was the wedding of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen. On October 12th, 1810 the festivities began and they ended on October 17th with a horse race.”

“The wedding was celebrated with multiple days of drinking, feasting and horse races. The celebration then became an annual event”

Events in Munich includes “the Parade of Oktoberfest Landlords and Breweries, the Official Tapping of the Keg on Opening Day (at the Schottenhamel tent), the Oktoberfest Mass, the Böllerschießen (handheld canon salute) in front of the Bavaria statue, and the Open-Air Oktoberfest Music Concert Fest.”

“Why is Oktoberfest in September and not October?

As the festival got longer, the starting dates were moved into September because the days were longer and the weather was warmer. Visitors could stay out later to enjoy the gardens and the famous fields that make up the festival grounds without getting chilly.”

Oktoberfest Traditions

Lederhosen and Dirndl. It doesn’t matter if you have German heritage or simply want to embrace the festivities—everyone is encouraged to wear traditional Bavarian attire during Oktoberfest. … https://www.wikihow.com/Wear-a-Dirndl

https://raredirndl.com/

Wooden clothespins with special names/designs on them are a common sight at Oktoberfest. They’re known locally as Glupperl, and make the perfect nametags/keepsakes for your Oktoberfest party.

rubber duckies wearing dirndls and lederhosen

Beer and Steins.

Create a welcoming space where your party guests can try out different traditional German beers, alongside other European favorites. Have taste-testers vote on which is their favorite Oktoberfest beer, or ask them to guess which they think they’re drinking based on the taste.

Enjoy a Mug Rootbeer Float

Spezi: half Fanta, half Coca-Cola. It’s one of the most popular soft drinks in Bavaria. You can easily DIY it by mixing any cola with any orange soda!

Learning popular Oktoberfest dances

The Chicken Dance…

For unusual entertainment…. play the German drinking game flunkyball. http://www.beerballrules.com/

Yodeling…

Karaoke with popular Oktoberfest songs.

Set Up a Dance Floor and Hire a Live Band

Learn classic Oktoberfest songs and dances: such as FLIEGERLIED

An Oktoberfest photo booth https://www.amazon.com/Iceyyyy-Oktoberfest-Photo-Prop-Set/dp/B08FR34KQ2/ref=dp_prsubs_2?pd_rd_i=B08FR34KQ2&psc=

Make a station where people can pick up crafting materials and look over DIY instructions on how to make things like a traditional German star or decorate their own beer stein.

Gingerbread heart decorating https://www.oktoberfest.de/en/magazine/eat-and-drink/the-recipe-for-perfect-gingerbread-hearts

Delicious Food.

Oktoberfest finger foods:

Large soft pretzels

Obatzda (an amazing Bavarian cheese spread)

Bread slices with Bavarian toppings (e.g. Leberkäse)

Mini-salads in mason jars (e.g. German potato salad)

A Bavaria-inspired charcuterie platter with various kinds of cheese and cold cuts

Apple strudel and roasted almonds

Here are two delicious recipes I have in my collection:

Oktoberfest Brewer’s Casserole
Serves 4

14 oz diced beef
2/3 cup dark beer
good 3/4 cup bouillon
1/2 tsp salt
dash black pepper
1 bay leaf
1 tsp basil
1 crushed garlic clove
2 tbs chopped parsley
1/2 – 1 tbs tomato purée
1 shredded leek
2 sliced carrots
1/2 tbs flour + a little water

Pour beer, bouillon, salt, spices, garlic, parsley, and tomato purée in a
pot. Bring to a boil. Add the meat, little by little, and let boil for 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
Add the vegetables and boil on low heat for 10 minutes.

Mix water and flour, add this thickening, and let boil for another 5
minutes. Serve with boiled potatoes, pickled gherkin (cucumber), and a
salad. Enjoy!

Germany-Beer-Basted Sausage with Caramelized Onions and German Mustard
8 sausages, such as bratwurst, knackwurst or wieners
4 ozs. Oktoberfest beer
2 ozs. hot Dusseldorf mustard
3 ozs. oil
16 ozs. yellow onion, peeled, quartered and sliced very thin

Place oil in a large nonstick skillet (12-in. diameter) and add the sliced onions. sauté over low heat, stirring often, until onions are golden brown, soft and caramelized. Do not let burn. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and stir in the hot Dusseldorf mustard. Set aside. Prepare a grill, and cook sausages, basting with Oktoberfest beer every minute or so. Serve the grilled sausages with the mustard-seasoned onions.
(Note: you may prefer the traditional sauerkraut, which is delicious when heated with whole brown mustard seeds)

I would include my grandmother’s potato pancakes and apple crisp.

German Potato Pancakes

6 lg Potatoes — mashed
2 Well-beaten Eggs
1 1/2 tb Flour
1/4 ts Baking powder
1 1/2 ts Salt
1 sm Grated onion

Mix above ingredients. Drop by spoonfuls into 1/4 inch cooking oil. Turn to brown on both sides. This makes about 12 (3 inch) cakes. Good served with applesauce.

Autumn Apple Crisp

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter or margarine (not soft)
5-6 cups of apples, peeled and sliced

Mix brown sugar, flour, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture is
crumbly. Spread sliced apples over the bottom of a buttered square baking pan.
Sprinkle with crumbly mixture over apples, patting lightly with fingers. Bake
uncovered at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream orice cream.

And don’t forget the big soft pretzels and German mustard, the aforementioned sauerkraut, and of course beer.