Put on your dirndl or lederhosen and ein prosit — it’s Oktoberfest time in Penticton.
If you couldn’t be in Munich for the traditional festival, organizers for the third annual Penticton Oktoberfest hope it will quench your thirst.
“Oktoberfest is Bavarian and many years ago it was a wedding celebration, now it is done in Munich and in September. It is usually in a great big beer hall and features music. We are bringing in two bands and German beer straight from Munich this year,” said Barb Scheiderat, chair of the Oktoberfest festival being held on Oct. 27 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
For those ready to ein prosit (drink up), imported beers Hacker-Pschorr and Pilsner-Urquell will be served. Hacker-Pschoor is an amber beer similar to the brew introduced at the first Munich Oktoberfest in 1810.
It is one of only six beers allowed to be served during Munich’s Oktoberfest, as the beers must be brewed within the city limits.
Besides the two traditional brews, Penticton’s Cannery Brewing will be at the festival. The microbrewery will serve 360 Lager, Naramata Nut Brown Ale and Apricot Wheat Ale. Along with the traditional food, including Sauerkraut, music is the key ingredients to the party said Schneiderat. Organizers of Penticton’s Oktoberfest have brought in two bands from Vancouver to ensure the dance floor stays alive.
The Beerbarrels are a three-piece Oompa-pa dance band who have been performing professionally for approximately the last 30 years. During Oktoberfest, the Beerbarrels change their presentation style of being a dance band and become more of a show band. They not only play traditional Oompa-pa music, German drinking songs and get people involved with Oktoberfest antics such as yodeling.
The other band performing is Peter Juric and the Continentals who have opened for the Tragically Hip, Jim Byrnes and have given 33 performances at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom.
“The food is going to be as close as you can get, other than actually going to Oktoberfest in Munich. We try to stay authentic with most everything so people can get a real feel and traditional sense of the celebration,” said Schneiderat. “Most of us from the Heidelberg Club will be in traditional outfits and we encourage everyone who comes out to dress up as well and have a good time.”
This year Penticton Oktoberfest has teamed up with the Penticton Vees, who happen to have a game on Oct. 27 at the South Okanagan Events Centre at 5 p.m. against the Victoria Grizzlies. Those who go to the game and bring their ticket stub to the door at Oktoberfest will get $5 off their entrance fee. The regular price of tickets is $25 (plus service fees).
Volunteers are still needed for the event. To apply visit www.PentictonOktoberfest.ca and fill out the form online.