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Culture August 3, 2017
Cheers, ladies!
Oktoberfest is more than just an excuse to drink beer and eat sausages. As great as that kind of celebration may sound, the event actually dates back to a wedding in Germany.
Since Oktoberfest 2017 is coming up soon, we decided it was time to brush up on some history.
When Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese von Saxony-Hildburghausen in Oct. 12, 1810, the citizens of Munich were invited to celebrate the royal event on the fields in front of the city gates.
The fields were named Theresienwiese, which translates to Theresa’ fields. The fields have since been abbreviated to Wies’n, but the festivities have continued.
The next year, Oktoberfest continued in the form of an Agriculture show with horse races to promote Bavarian agriculture.
Then in 1818, a carousel and swings were set up as part of the festivities. Eventually, beer stands started showing up, which were then replaced by beer halls and tents in 1896. In 1970, the festivities turned into a fun fair with carousels as the fairground trade continued to grow in Germany.
It has only grown since then because today, Oktoberfest is the largest festival in the world.
And if you happen to be in Los Angeles during Oktoberfest, we’ve compiled a list of activities you can do in California’s City of Angels and its neighboring cities.
You don’t have to go all the way to Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest this year. L.A. has its own Oktoberfest in Alpine Village in Torrance, held from Sept. 8 to Oct. 28. With traditional German foods, beer and music, it’s as authentic of an experience you can get in L.A. County.
This Arts District brewery will be celebrating Oktoberfest on Sunday, Sept. 20 from noon to 8 p.m.
With Angel City beer, German food, live music and games of skill, this brewery will have a more relaxed Oktoberfest celebration. Also, entry is free so bring all your friends.
This celebration in Pomona offers Bavarian music, German food, The Chicken Dance, games, prizes and, of course, gallons of beer. According to their website, “guests are ‘transported’ to Bavaria as they walk through the gates and into Oktoberfest.”
This event is open every Friday and Saturday of October from 6 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are also only $10.
If you’re willing to venture to Orange County, Oktoberfest is coming to Anaheim with an awesome celebration at the Phoenix Club.
This event offers live DJs, sausage-eating contests, eight free polka lessons, folk dancers, jugglers, a balloon man, beer and a free bounce house. It’s also open every weekend of October. the schedule is:
Tickets are only $10 a person and children 18 and under are free.
But if you’re not willing to make the trip to Pomona or Anaheim for Oktoberfest, the festivities will also be in Venice, CA. Beers will be flowing and people will be yodeling at the Wurstküche restaurant.
This sausage house offers Bavarian style hot dogs and a live music by Munich Boom-Steiners. Also, they will be holding a costume contest, so don’t forget your dirndl and lederhosen.
The event starts on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will be held every weekend in October.
Oktoberfest might have started out as a celebration of a royal event, but now it’s a major German event with tons of beer and German sausages. So, get your lederhosen and beer stein and prepare yourself for a month-long celebration.
