Oktoberfest!
The German-American Social Club’s 41st annual Oktoberfest opened last Friday with the traditional “O’zapft is” — the tapping of the kegs.
In the Cape, Oktoberfest is the official sign of fall, heralded in by ethnic fare piled on paper plates and enjoyed on old-school concrete picnic tables underneath towering oaks in the Bavarian Garden on the club grounds off Pine Island Road.
Sizzling potato pancakes, bratwurst, schnitzel, beer by the pitcher and this year — oh, my — perfectly prepared little pillows of pierogies served up with slices of kielbasa and pickles.
Southwest Florida’s fall is the rousing music of bands flown in from Germany, the sound of the foots-long alphores blown to welcome guests, and the fun of the chicken dance which gets all ages — from literal toddlers to those of us who, well, toddle maybe a step or two behind but join in nonetheless.
Yes, we love Oktoberfest and, if hometown festivals are your thing, this is one you won’t want to miss, even if you have attended every one since 1975.
The event runs two weekends every October. It kicked off last Friday and continues today from 4 p.m. to midnight, from noon to midnight on Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday.
It typically draws crowds of 30,000-plus through its course.
For those who want to up their experience, special VIP passes are again available, offering a special tent area with private bar and bathrooms, drink specials and beer refills, a sit-down meal inside the air-conditioned Von Steuben Hall, anniversary T-shirts, swag bags and more.
There also is the kids area with rides, which add to the family atmosphere.
We thank the German-American Social Club for its efforts through the years, and we thank the organization for its many contributions to the community, which have had a big impact.
Events like these make Cape Coral the great place that it is to live.
Gemutlichkeit.
Breeze Newspapers editorial