A nail pounding contest, a chicken hat contest, polkas, a tuba player standing on a table, a stein holding contest and even plastic beer cup pyramids all infused this Oktoberfest with ethnic or close to ethnic flavor. Not to mention the yodeling to be heard. The dance floor was typically full off and on.
While the events during the day had their own family appeal the real appeal was witnessed at night, along with the long line of bier drinkers lined up to get in during the evening.
A nail pounding contest, a chicken hat contest, polkas, a tuba player standing on a table, a stein holding contest and even plastic beer cup pyramids all infused this Oktoberfest with ethnic or close to ethnic flavor. Not to mention the yodeling to be heard. The dance floor was typically full off and on.
While the events during the day had their own family appeal the real appeal was witnessed at night, along with the long line of bier drinkers lined up to get in during the evening.
“I wish I would have been better prepared to compete with the dirndl dresses,” said Esther Bernardino, of La Mesa about her first Oktoberfest in El Cajon, when she attended its Oct. 4 festivities. Bernardino, clothed in a t-shirt, noticed as much as the next person how flattering the dirndl dresses are to all ages of German women.
Her husband, Fernie Bernardino, clearly said what many come for, “I came for the beer.” He is not alone with bier being an Oktoberfest favorite for many.
German American Society’s Secretary Marianne Kandall filled in the backstory on Oktoberfest by explaining that it began as a celebration in Bavaria of the marriage of King Ludwig to Princess Therese. And the annual festivities associated with this marriage have not stopped since around 1810.
Volunteer Robert Sporleder, 20, of El Cajon, dressed in the shorts German men typically wear, lederhosen, graciously solicited attendees to buy raffle tickets for a trip to the motherland, Germany, for a party of two.
“Authentic food,” said the Oktoberfest Chairman Mike Anderson, among other offerings the El Cajon Oktoberfest provided to those wanting to attend. “Bee sting (a German dessert), Ox on a spit, bratwurst, guilash suppe (soup), and many other authentic German foods.”
Oktoberfest regular, Christel Pfeifer, provided her specialties as well such as her red cabbage.
Oktoberfest ran over the past two weekends ending its run on Oct. 5.
The German American Society’s facilities located on South Mollison pulled off their 43rd annual Oktoberfest with great fanfare. And some great steins were to be had to toast, or proclaim Prost! to the Society on another successful fall event.
