Yup, it's here. The time of year that I so dread. Not autumn, or back to school, or Thanksgiving. No, what I'm talking about is .... OKTOBERFEST.
Never heard of it? This is what it boils down to. Oktoberfest runs for about 10 days, always the weekend of the Canadian Thanksgiving. We have a huge influx of tourists, infact, this is our tourist season. Many years ago, it was the celebration of the harvest - after the actual harvesting was done, of course. Now, it has come down to this: Beer, music, shnitzel, saur kraut, and sausage. This means that the buses will be over crowded, the hotels/motels will be all booked up, and drunken idiots will be wandering the streets. What fun!
But wait, there's more! We also have a parade. Yup, complete with Onkle Hans, the big, orange headed mascot. Then there's the Miss Oktoberfest pagent. Oh, yeah, I'm for real, here folks. Ladies come from all over the world to vie for the honour. No, I'm not kidding. I wish that I was.
I hate it.
I don't drink beer. I don't listen to polka music, and I refuse to do the Chicken dance. I refuse.
And Onkle Hans? He scares the sh*t ouuta me.
I might go to the parade. It is just outside my door. I might even go to the tapping of the keg - the official start of Oktoberfest. Could be interesting. One year, a guy threw a pie in the face of the keg tapper...It might have been the Premiere of Ontario, I forget. I might even ride the bus late at night for free. (They do this to keep the drunks from driving). Sometimes, they have a laser light show downtown. About 2 blocks away from where we live.
I won't wear the red or green hats. They look like Peter Pan's hat, but they have a white or yellow feather tucked in the band. For an extra few $ you can buy a HUGE feather that you are guaranteed to lose before the festivities are over.
Yeah, I might check out some of the free stuff.
I will NOT however, enjoy myself of have fun. You have my word on it.
19 comments:
sounds like you should go away on holiday whilst its oktoberfest time, you could come to rhodes with me!
I am so excited. I'll be even more excited about when I'm 19. And I want to go to the parade. Don't you remember me asking last year if I could be Miss Oktoberfest? You said I could. I love the chicken dance, great now it's stuck in my head.
But other than that the food is gross, I don't drink beer and I must agree that mascot is rather frightening.
her indoors - can I ? Really? I'll go pack!!!
KC- Get back to your work!!! Are you checking up on me? Creepy.
You COULD be Miss Oktoberfest, but.....you would probably have to wear the stooopid hat. You know that we can'y do hats.
Oktoberfest. Hmmm. Does it involve a lot of hairy men, beer, and thigh slapping?
Doesn't do it for me either.
How did this German tradition spread all over the world? Every country has some kind of Ocktoberfest. Just an excuse to get drunk. Kinda like St. Patrick's Day.
nonny - Our city is the Official Oktoberfest. I live in a German city, originally called Berlin. I'm not sure how it started, I just wish that it was already over.
tod- oh yeah. lot's of hairy men, thigh slapping and beer, beer, beer. and don't forget the hats...
haha, I would LOVE to see KC in a little stoopid hat with a MISS OKTOBERFEST sash. I can't believe that kid is German and irish and doesn't drink beer. Actually I'm kinda relieved about it.
Never have been to Oktoberfest. I pretty much avoid it. Batten down the hatches! It's gonna get loud!
heidi - yup, and scottish, too. Remember what she used to say when she was little? beert is for losers. Too bad she doesn't feel the same about hard liquor.
Hi Life, or Something Like It,
This is funny! The beer, music, schnitzel, sauerkraut and sausage are enough to raise anyone’s cholesterol a few points; and all the crowds and noise could do a real number on the nervous system. But despite all of that, it really sounds like a lot of fun! I hope you have a marvelous time at this years Oktoberfest!!
My bud that lives up there used to try and try and try to get me to come up there for Oktoberfest. But, why would I do that when we have "Bockoberfest" down in Shiner? :-)
miss litzi - I'm only going to the free stuff within walking distance.I am NOT having fun.
cindydianne - well, you could come up this way and maybe then I would have fun....Truthfully, I don't know anyone that goes to the festhalls, it's mostly for the tourists.
I'd like that, I really would. But, we are saving money for a trip to Iowa to visit KB's family AND a crazy puppy. Insanity prevails!
Okay….although maybe you’ll surprise yourself and actually enjoy it once you get there!
I would be the best Miss Oktoberfest...maybe next year. Then you would have to go Oktoberfesting. I think beer is an aquired taste - I just haven't acquired it yet.
Ok, well have a not-fun-time:-)!!!
There is a town here named Helen, Georgia. It is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and it looks like an old German town. They celebrate Oktoberfest the ENTIRE month of October. You can't drive down their streets, the hotels are booked months in advance, and, to me, it is the silliest thing I have ever seen. I refuse to go anywhere near that town in October. Any other time of the year it is a beautiful, fun spot.
marni - I would leave town if it were like that here! It does get crazy, though. This is the 2nd largest Oktoberfest in the world.(ohh, ahh). I just watched the tapping of the keg on tv (I couldn't find the remote, you know what I'm talking about!!). My God, confetti flying, beer flowing...I can't stand it. I will ride the bus for free tonight though, why not? I plan on going to the movies and avoiding the drunks altogether....
thanks for stopping by my blog.
well, the shnitzel & kraut sound good - and you're right, might as well peek at the parade if its going by your door. I always watch our 4th July fireworks from my bedroom window...
we used to go to the sausage festival in Elberta, AL. but it was small - so was ok.
diana- I think tha we'll go to the parade, but as for the rest of it...It's just so silly. Last night was the first night and already it was too much for me. When did I get so old?
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