Midwest Oktoberfests: The best of the wurst
For Midwest Oktoberfests, these six pack a punch
The world’s largest kegger is about to kick off in Munich. That’s when the beer-drinking bash known as Oktoberfest, now in its 176th year, takes over this Bavarian capital for 16 days.
A staggering 6 million people — many of them literally staggering — crowd under massive tents set up on Munich’s Theresienwiese meadow, hoisting 1-liter glasses of beer, chomping on pretzels and brats and dancing their dirndls off to oompah music.
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Oktoberfests: The best of the wurst
This year’s ceremonial tapping of the first barrel takes place Saturday. If a trip to Munich isn’t in the cards, march your lederhosen to one of these Midwest Oktoberfests:
LaCrosse, Wis.
Sept. 25-Oct. 3
This brewery town on the Mighty Mississippi takes its annual celebration so seriously, it trademarked the name Oktoberfest, U.S.A. with the federal government.
Opening weekend attracts the biggest crowds of the nine-day festival, with an estimated 100,000 people turning out Sept. 26 for the massive Maple Leaf Parade.
Hotel rooms can be hard to come by the first few days of the fest, but the beer, brats, 30 some bands and gemutlichkeit keep going through Oct. 3.
Another incentive: It’s one of the prettiest times of the year to be in LaCrosse.
“We’re surrounded by bluffs, and the fall colors are usually at their peak during Oktoberfest,” event president Jodi Ehrenberger said.
The party will be even bigger next year, when LaCrosse’s Oktoberfest turns 50.
Cincinnati, Ohio
Sept. 19-20
More than half a million damen und herren file into a six-block area, where they’ll consume eight miles of mettwurst, 15 football fields of sauerkraut balls and enough bratwurst to equal the length of 29 Empire State buildings. Oh yeah, and they’ll guzzle 800 barrels of beer.
Just typing that makes me want to burp.
“We don’t mess around,” said Chris Kemper, Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce spokesman. “This is the second biggest Oktoberfest in the world, second only to Munich.”
The Gemutlichkeit Games — think Beer Olympics — take place today and Thursday as a lead up to the two-day festival, whose highlight is the World’s Largest Chicken Dance, led this year by beer-loving Homer Simpson.
Chippewa Falls, Wis.
Sept. 18-20
When the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company blows its whistle at noon this Friday, the “golden keg” gets wheeled up to the main tent in the Northern Wisconsin State Fair Grounds and three days of fun begin.
About 15,000 people are expected to turn out this weekend for the 7th annual event, featuring entertainment on three stages, plenty of authentic German food and, of course, mostly Leinie beer — including an Oktoberfest brew.
Roughly three out of four Chippewa County residents are of German descent, so the community gets uber-involved in the festival, said Jill Herriges, programs director for the Chippewa Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
You’ll find heaps of stick-to-your-ribs German fare, including hand-rolled German pretzels.
“We have a lady from Germany who makes them,” Herriges said. “They sell out every year.”
Chippewachamber.org/oktoberfest.asp
Amana Colonies, Iowa
Oct. 2-4
This collection of seven villages — each of German origin — has been celebrating its version of Oktoberfest since 1965. The hub of activity is a century-old barn in Amana, where people sit at long tables, swaying to the oompah music and downing beer from Millstream, Iowa’s oldest microbrewery.
In addition to German music, polka bands will be playing Czech tunes — a nod to the large Czech population in nearby Cedar Rapids.
“We’re a community of only 1,400 people, but we draw about 35,000 to the event,” said Jon Childers, one of the festival organizers.
Added Childers: “A lot of people mistake us for being Amish, but we’re not.”
Frankenmuth, Mich.
Sept. 17-20
“Frankenmuth is known as Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” said Mark Janson, president of RAM Productions, the company in charge of the town’s annual Oktoberfest. “Everything here has a Bavarian motif. And our [festival] is the only one sanctioned by Munich Oktoberfest.”
Do the schuhplattler on a big wooden dance floor, eat and drink like a German and don’t miss the popular wiener dog races at noon Saturday, when up to 100 dachshunds crank their little legs into overdrive.
Seymour, Ind.
Oct. 1-3
John Mellencamp’s birthplace — and yes, it’s a small town — has been throwing an Oktoberfest bash for 37 years.
While Mellencamp hasn’t attended for quite some time, his parents and siblings usually are there, along with thousands of others who come for the free nightly entertainment, brat-eating contest, carnival rides, flea market and parade.
“We have almost every kind of food you can imagine,” said Martha McIntire, chairwoman of the event. Favorites include a local church’s apple dumplings and the Kiwanis’ fish sandwiches.
“People line up for a block to get one,” McIntire said.