La Mesa’s Oktoberfest, which ran from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, offered a wide range of all things German and not German. From the chance to buy a cookbook, Oma’s Oktoberfest Specialties by Margit Gantt, chicken hats, Bavarian music, German foods, and a German Karnival for kids, plus vendors that offered all kinds of products.
La Mesa’s Oktoberfest, which ran from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, offered a wide range of all things German and not German. From the chance to buy a cookbook, Oma’s Oktoberfest Specialties by Margit Gantt, chicken hats, Bavarian music, German foods, and a German Karnival for kids, plus vendors that offered all kinds of products.
Bob Stall’s Spaten Hofbrauhaus Biergarten had plenty of beer plus bratwurst, pretzels, and potato pancakes. Elsewhere beer related games such as the beer squat challenge, the tug of wars and more were offered in this Oktoberfest that was billed as spanning 44 years from 1973-2017.
Successful beer squat challenger, La Mesa resident Gilbert Vinzon with his 3-month-old son, Gustavo, in a front carrying baby carrier, did the squat, with a filled beer cup on his head, easily. Vinzon attributed his skills to “I do a little lifting on the side.”
Lederhosen and dirndls attire was common. Miss Teen La Mesa, Alexis Smith, and Miss La Mesa, Heather Bardin, wore Bavarian dirndls. Festive fake lederhosen t-shirts were also sold and seen in the crowd. Chicken hats were the go-to head dressing besides Bavarian fedoras or flower garlands.
La Mesa city councilmember and vice mayor, Kristine C. Alessio said, “This is a tradition in La Mesa. I’m happy it’s continuing on.”
Part of who is helping it to continue, after a few changes of organizers, is Laurel McFarlane of McFarlane Promotions. Camille Riley, their marketing and public relations manager said, “We anticipate 100,000 in attendance over the weekend.” McFarlane’s Ed Decker put the number of vendors at 200.
There were two beer gardens; one that included craft beers. Perri Spiller, manager of the bars for McFarlane said, “This is the first year McFarlane has done this event. First time for a Ferris wheel. First time with a full bar. We’re keeping it old school but with modern twists.”
Molly Tripp, along with her 2-mos-old daughter Lilly said, “We come to listen to music and dance. Eat bratwurst. Lilly likes the bratwurst and wants to do more dances. I’m half German. My husband just found out from Ancestry.com that he is half German.”
La Mesa’s three-day event, as the Tripp family got to enjoy, was an all ages, family friendly event.
Kids got to also marvel over the Bob Stall Chevrolet vehicles displayed that included a 2016 corvette wrapped like a La Mesa Police Department patrol car. Bob Stall Chevrolet’s Jon Dodson, a sales and leasing consultant, offered up specifics “It’s a 2016 with 460 horsepower, silver with a wrap. Not one penny of taxpayer money was used to buy it. Kids like to take photos in it.”
New La Mesa business owners, Lynn and Nick Friesen, owners of Re-Animated Records Movies & More, had Lynn Friesen commenting on their first Oktoberfest with “This is awesome. We get to reach people outside of La Mesa that might not know we are here.”
The event was not just beer filled steins, giant pretzels, potato pancakes, schnitzel, sauerkraut, and bratwurst but interactive games, vendors, and music. Bavarian tuba style via the Bavarian Biergarten Band, polka bands, and rock bands. The Inspiration Station had a German Car Show, yoga, Zumba, and a collection of activities.
Colin Martin, owner of Good Wood, was coordinating the cornhole toss at the Oktoberfest and will also be providing his wood cornholes for the 2nd Annual Cornhole Tournament & Food Truck Rally for the La Mesa Park and Recreation Department on Oct. 21 at MacArthur Park. Misty Thompson, director of the Park and Recreation department, was close at hand to observe and assist.
A yodeling contest, beer stein holding contest, brat-eating contest were just a part of the fun-spirited competitions. Visit the www.cityoflamesa.com to see what next year’s festival includes.
