Q: How did Oktoberfest get started?
A: The first Oktoberfest was a wedding celebration for Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese. Now that's my kind of wedding reception...
Q: Approximately how many liters of beer are consumed each year at the Oktoberfest in Munich?
A: Nearly 7 million liters are consumed every year!
Q: Visitors often over-estimate their ability to hold their alcohol and become "Bierleichen". What does this German jest mean?
A: Literally translated, "Beer Corpses".
Q: What are the criteria for a beer to be served at the festival?
A: The beer must be brewed within the Munich city limits.
Q: If you want to see how wealthy a fair patron is, which part of their outfit would you examine?
A: The amount of goat hair in their hat. Previously highly valued in Germany, artificial goat hair is now used, so it may not be as great an indicator as it once was.
So for those of us who can't make it to Munich for this ridiculously huge celebration, what are our Options? Reportedly the largest "traditional" Oktoberfest in the states occurs in Cincinnati, Ohio each year drawing more than 500,000 visitors, but let's look a little bit closer to home for most of our readers.
In Southern California, you have several options, but two take the cake:
Alpine Village - This version of Oktoberfest gets top billing as it is my personal favorite. Held in Torrance, the grounds for this Oktoberfest are a reproduction of a German village. They are so anxious for Oktoberfest that this year they are starting September 9th, and run the festival through October 23rd. In recent years quite a cult following has formed around their host Heino, and this year he will be on stage from the 16th - 23rd.
Old World - Similar to Alpine Village, Old World is a reproduction of a German village, but is located in Huntington Beach, CA. Even more anxious than Alpine Village, Old World started this year's celebration yesterday, and it runs all the way through October 30th. If visiting Old World for Oktoberfest you will find yourself in more of a restaurant atmosphere than at Alpine Village. Alpine favors the gigantic tents typically constructed in Munich each year for the festival. The setup at Old World definitely has it's advantages.
The other two options (which I can't speak very knowledgeably about) are Big Bear Lake and Lake Arrowhead. Both seem to be more family friendly events to me with activities for kids. So here's my advice:
If you're looking for a fun daytime activity for the family, try Lake Arrowhead or Big Bear Lake.
If you're looking for a place you can actually find a seat, and a restroom, go to Old World and get their early.
Lastly, if you are looking for raucous good time, and don't care much for sitting, using the restroom, or understanding anything the host is saying...there is no better place than the raging Alpine Village.
That's it for now "Prost!"
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