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Grab your lederhosen, because the end of September can mean only one thing: Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest is the largest folk festival in the world. The event features many different activities throughout its duration, including a beer festival and a travelling carnival. The festival is held over a two-week period ending on the first Sunday in October.
The festival dates back to Oct. 12, 1810, when it was first held in celebration of a marriage between the crown prince of Bavaria, who would later become King Louis I, and Princess Therese Von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.
Today, the event is celebrated throughout much of the world.
This year, the Regina German Club will be joining in on celebrating the festival. The president of the club, Kerri Van Loosen, said the organization dates back many years and hosts many different events.
“It’s been around since 1955, not at this particular location, but it’s got history to it,” Van Loosen said. “We hope that people will continue to make memories there and see the value in a cultural club as a place to come together and socialize.”
She said anyone is welcome to take part in the club’s activities.
“You don’t have to be a member; we encourage that because of our cultural club status, but certainly come and try it out, and if you want to get a membership, that’d be great,” said Van Loosen.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the German Club, along with many other local businesses, is struggling to make a full recovery. Van Loosen said that with Oktoberfest, the club members are hoping to generate enough revenue to help the business begin making a full recovery.
“We’re certainly hoping it’s successful. It’s usually a good revenue generator for us, and people usually have a really good time, and then they end up coming back shortly after the event,” she said.
“It almost reminds people that, ‘Oh yeah, the German Club exists, and let’s come back next weekend for lunch or let’s get supper or let’s go and book our wedding or our birthday or whatever.'”
Oktoberfest activities at the Regina German Club are open Friday and carry on into the weekend. Van Loosen said the club’s Oktoberfest Auftakt supper is already sold out, but there will be other activities taking place.
“Starting at 9:00 p.m. (Friday) is our Ms. and Mr. Oktoberfest contest, and anyone is welcome to participate in that. Tomorrow starts at 2 p.m. with the kinderfest portion – there’s a petting zoo, bouncy house, balloon making, there’s performances, there’s games, there’s obviously awesome food available all day, our patio will be open, and then the main event starts at 7 pm, which is the big show with the live band and the keg-tapping ceremony, and everyone can have a sample,” said Van Loosen.
Anyone wanting to take part in the Regina German Club’s Oktoberfest activities can visit the club at 1727 St. Johns Street.