O'zapft is!
The traditional cheer that heralds the ceremonial tapping of the keg
to mark the onset of Oktoberfest will soon be heard throughout the
streets of Soulard.
Fall is made for festivals and the Soulard
Oktoberfest will usher in an array of authentic German events,
entertainment and food from Oct. 3-5 at the Soulard Market Plaza ,
soccer field and on the corner of 8th and Lafayette avenues to “willkommen”
the centuries-old Oktoberfest celebration.
“The Soulard Oktoberfest brings a taste of Munich to your backyard,”
says Oktoberfest spokesperson Victor Wendl, whose great grandfather
was a founder of the German Cultural Society in St. Louis. “More
people in St. Louis and the United States, for that matter, can trace
their heritage to a German background. The Soulard Oktoberfest is
the quintessential way to honor and celebrate our city’s German
roots and heritage.”
 While
the spirited Soulard neighborhood may have been founded by Frenchman
Antoine Soulard in the mid-18th century, it was the Germans who actually
built the brick and mortar of the Soulard neighborhood and brought
the area to life.
“Soulard and St. Louis are stepped in German heritage,”
explains Don Kirby, president of the Soulard Restoration Group. “Oktoberfest
offers the perfect opportunity to spotlight the impact the German
culture has had on the history, architecture and vibrancy of the Soulard
neighborhood.”
Johnny Daus, president of the Soulard Business Association, adds that
Oktoberfest also offers people the chance enjoy a total Soulard experience.
“In addition to all the Oktoberfest events, revelers can visit
an array of Soulard establishments and enjoy delicious food and drinks
and fantastic entertainment,” he says. “Oktoberfest defines
the camaraderie, fellowship and fun of Soulard.”
Tapping
into tradition
Soulard Oktoberfest honors the German tradition that began 175 years
ago when the Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
The citizens of Munich were invited to attend the festivities held
on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the happy
royal event. Today, the Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest festival
in the world.
And the Soulard Oktoberfest is the fastest growing Oktoberfest
in America.
From the authentic traditional German meal of bratwurst, pork and
schweinshaxe (pig’s knuckles) served on beer benches imported
from Munich to the entertainment — the Bavarian party-band
Chikeria, the band that made the Milwaukee German Fest famous, and
Obenheimer Express’ lively partyfest brass signature sound
from Alsace on the German/French border — the Soulard Oktoberfest
truly mirrors the legendary festival in Munich.
“We’ve really elevated the authenticity of the festival
with the addition of an array of traditional Oktoberfest events
and entertainment as well offering a true German Oktoberfest meal,”
explains Wendl, whose been to many festivals throughout Germany.
“The combination of authentic German food and our first class
entertainment acts that are flying in from Germany, truly brings
a taste of Munich to Soulard.”
| Festival
firsts: Here’s the scoop on what’s new this
year at Oktoberfest:
Girls,
girls, girls
The Soulard Oktoberfest is proud to present the most
attractive addition to this year’s festival: the
stunning Soulard Oktoberfest Frauleins. You can mingle
with the striking Soulard Frauleins at several Oktoberfest
events. And then vote for your favorite Fraulein at
1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The ladies will be presented
on the Anheuser-Busch stage by Johnny Daus, president
of the Soulard Business Association. Votes cost $1,
and all proceeds will be donated to the Soulard Business
Association’s safety program. Festival founders
reveal that some lucky guy will get a sweet kiss from
the lovely lady who’s crowned Soulard’s
most fabulous Fraulein.
A
trio of tents
In true tradition of the legendary Munich Oktoberfest,
the Soulard festival is featuring three tents this year,
honoring the German tradition of each brewer featuring
its craftbeers in a signature tent. The individual brewer
tents enhance the authenticity of the Oktoberfest, truly
bringing a taste of Munich to Soulard.
The Hofbrau-Autohaus tent features authentic German
music, food and traditions that mirrors the festival
in Munich while the Anheuser Busch offers a mix of German
and American flavors. The Spaten tent caters to the
younger crowd with live broadcasts by 105.7 The Point
and lively partyfest music. The signature tents allow
patrons to partake in a unique Oktoberfest experience
by offering a wide variety of events and entertainment
for everyone to enjoy.
Drink
up with 105.7 the Point
The first annual Soulard Oktoberfest Mug Crawl kicked
off the Oktoberfest celebration this year in August.
With the purchase of a commemorative Oktoberfest 20-oz.
stein for $6, patrons can endlessly fill their mugs
at an array of participating Soulard bars and restaurants
for discounted refills on a variety of featured beers
until Oct. 5.
The seven-week Oktoberfest Mug Crawl is a partnership
with 105.7 The Point and offers an unprecedented opportunity
to sample a variety of specialty beers at discounted
prices at dozens of Soulard establishments. The August
mug crawl was so successful, the Point is hosting another
crawl across Soulard Saturday, Sept 12.
Festivities begin with a live Point broadcast from 8
to 10 p.m. at Llywelyn's Pub, at the corner of 9th and
Soulard, with stops at 1860 Salon and Hardshell Café,
Johnny’s and Nadine’s to name a few. There
will be tons of Point prizes and giveaways, including
a chance to win Pointfest tickets at every stop along
the crawl.
Mugs are still available at select bars, so get your
commemorative mug, raise your beer glass high —
and keep refilling it. Prost!
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City
officials and festival founders join FOX 2’s John Pertzborn,
to kick off the three-day festival with the annual color guard flag
ceremony followed by the tapping of a 200-liter handcrafted keg with
an authentic mallet, honoring the centuries-old German festival tradition.
The Oktoberfest celebration officially gets underway at 6 p.m. Friday,
Oct. 3, in the Hofbrau Tent on Soulard Market Plaza.
A team of eight Clydesdales, the folkloric sounds of Alpen horns,
curved wooden horn stretching nearly 20 feet that were originally
used in the Alps to call cows to pasture, along with the world’s
longest brat and dozens of traditional, craft and home brews beer
samplings set the stage for the Anheuser-Busch Grand Opening Ceremony
at noon on Saturday, Oct. 4 in the Anheuser-Busch Platz.
The lovely Soulard Oktoberfest Frauleins will be presented on stage,
and patrons can also cast their vote for $1 on their favorite fraulein.
Proceeds benefit the Soulard Business Association Street Safety program.
Other Oktoberfest highlights include the high-energy polka-meets-rock
sounds of Brave Combo, the St. Louis ensemble that won two Grammys
for “Best Polka Album.” AB Brewmasters and the St. Louis
Brews Home Club will also host a craftbrew presentations with samplings
of signature beers. The Spaten tent hosts the Miss Soulard Oktoberfest
Pageant, Arch Rival Rollergirls and live broadcasts with 105.7 The
Point. Celebrating
culture and community
Wendl explains that Oktoberfest not only aims to bring St. Louis
a celebration of German culture while showcasing the vibrant pubs
and restaurants of Soulard, but it also helps fill the void left
by the folding of the Strassenfest, the longtime German festival
that was held downtown for decades.
Oktoberfest plans on continuing the community outreach programs
funded by Strassenfest, which include the funding of a wing at the
Missouri Botanical Garden and the rebuilding the steps to the St.
Louis City Library.
“We want to continue the tradition of giving back to the community,”
says Wendl, whose uncle served as the director of Strassenfest for
years. “As Oktoberfest continues to grow and becomes more
and more successful, we aim to fund educational and community programs
that benefit St. Louis children.”
And there’s lots of family fun to be had at Oktoberfest. Kids
can play all day at the Karneval for Kids, which features inflatable
carnival rides at the Soulard Market Playground. Autohaus has teamed
up with the Gene Slay Boys Club of St Louis to host the “Kick
the Ball, Win a Bimmer Contest,” a soccer game where contestants
can win an Autohaus BMW and other prizes. Proceeds from the Autohaus
contest will be donated to the Boys Club of St. Louis.
The whole family will enjoy perusing the fine art at the Soulard
Art Mart show in the Soulard Market Pavilion. A German Mass will
also be held at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday at St. John Nepomuk.
Soulard Oktoberfest founder John McKinstry explains that the festival
offers a lot more than beers and brats.
“People travel from all around the Midwest and even Europe
to partake in the Soulard Oktoberfest celebration,” he says.
“This festival offers a unique opportunity for everyone to
experience a taste of German culture and experience the vibrancy
and excitement of the Soulard neighborhood.”
Soulardoktoberfest.com
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