Oktoberfest!
Held annually in Munich, Germany, it is a 16 to 18 day folk festival running from mid or late September to the first Sunday in October.
Decorations
Use a navy table cloth with the traditional light blue diamond shapes. Use your fall decor as well. The orange leaves and browns will really make it pop. Also, make good use of any beer steins you may have.
Food & Snacks
Like most festivals, Food is oh so important.
Your festival could include brats, red cabbage, potato cakes with a dessert of German Chocolate Brownies, or try making gingerbread cookies.
Since the festival originated as a celebration of a wedding, men often buy their sweethearts a heart-shaped gingerbread cookie with some sort of sweet message written in white icing. Let your residents make gingerbread cookies and decorate them. Something as simple as x’s and o’s or as a large cookie with lots of icing.
Have a pretzel bar. Try Savory and Sweet so everyone will enjoy!
- Savory Ideas: BBQ Dipping Sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce, Beer and Cheese Soup
- Sweet Ideas: Use rod pretzels and melted chocolate (dark and white), Sprinkles, marshmallows
Remember it’s all about the Display:
Hang pretzels from a rod or stack them on a wooden dowel. Try putting dipping sauces in a ketchup bottle squirter. Be sure to label so that items are easily identifiable.
Want to make your own soft pretzels – try this recipe!
Beer
Here are a few German recommendations:
- Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen
- Samuel Adams Oktoberfest
- Left Hand Brewing Oktoberfest Marzen Lager
- Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktober Festival Ale
- Of course there’s always root beer and non alcoholic beers for those that don’t drink beer.
Extra Fun We Have Found
Crafts
- Here’s a cute paper hat that looks so Alpine with a nice feather!
- And Paper dolls (add a thin cardboard backing to make them last, we will use these again.
Oktoberfest Movies to Watch
- National Lampoon’s European Vacation
- The Saint – S03, E11 (1964) Hi Jackers
- Hopscotch (1980)
Music Playlists Online
- Beer Barrel Polka
- Lawrence Welk Pennsylvania Polka
- Amazon has an Oktoberfest playlist with 21 songs (52 minutes) All traditional Oktoberfest songs
Printable Products for Okberfest
Check out printable products!
