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Oktoberfest celebration: German culture coming to El PasoSep 06, 2011 (El Paso Times - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- El Pasoans can get a real taste of German culture and food later this month. About 140 kegs of authentic German Paulaner beer have been shipped from MA 1/4nich for the annual Oktoberfest celebration on Sept. 16-18 at Fort Bliss. The Eyachtaler, a traditional German brass Oktoberfest band, and the Schuhplattler, a traditional Bavarian dance troupe, will provide entertainment, giving participants a glimpse into German life. The event, organized by the German Air Force Air Defense Center, will also feature a German drinking contest. Tickets are going fast. The second day is already sold out and tickets for the first day are expected to be gone soon. "This is the most traditional and most popular German celebration," said Lt. Col. Stephan Lawrenz, project manager for this year's festival. "It's a one-of-a-kind chance for the American public to get a taste of real German food and real German beer. "The beer we will serve is not produced here. It's the original beer for the MA 1/4nich Oktoberfest." The beer was transported by boat in a cooler container. It is now stored in two huge cooling trailers at Fort Bliss. Admission to the event's first two days cost $25 per day and includes a beer stein, German food and a raffle ticket for prizes. Beer is extra. The event benefits the German Air Force's local charity efforts. The final day, Sept. 18, will offer free admission yet people will have to pay for food and other extras, Lawrenz said. About 5,000 people are expected to attend over the three days. Oktoberfest has a long history, originally starting in 1810 to celebrate a royal German wedding. The event is now celebrated all over the world. Each day will begin with a ceremonial keg tapping in which the U.S., German and Bavarian national anthems will be played. Special guests from Fort Bliss will be selected to tap the first keg each day. Lt. Col. Uwe Spindler, leader of the Schuhplattler, said the event will show off German culture. For instance, there will be a sauf machine contest. Sauf is German slang for "very fast, hard drinking." Six people will team up to drink out of a large beer mug at the same time and compete against other teams to see who can drink the fastest, Spindler said. "The fastest team can do it in about a second," Spindler said. The 18th annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union German American Night Run will be on Sept. 10 at Freedom Crossing and will serve as an unofficial start to Oktoberfest. David Burge may be reached at [email protected]; 546-6126. Make plans -- The 39th annual Oktoberfest celebration at Fort Bliss will be Sept. 16-18 at 747 Carter Road. -- Admission for the first two days is $25 per day and includes a beer stein, raffle ticket and German food. Beer is extra. Anyone can attend but you must be 21 or older to drink alcohol. Admission to the final day is free. The second day is already sold out. -- Doors open at 6 p.m. on the first two days, the first keg is tapped at 7 p.m. and the event lasts until 1 a.m. both days. On the final day, there is a worship service at 10:30 a.m., Oktoberfest doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the keg tapping is at 12:30 p.m. The final day's festivities end at 6 p.m. -- Proceeds benefit the German Air Force Air Defense Center's Aid for the Needy charity, which benefits people on both sides of the border. -- Tickets for the first day are available at the German Club, at Robert E. Lee and Jeb Stuart, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and at the German store office, 516A Pleasonton, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Supplies are limited. -- Information: 568-3884. -- The 18th annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union German American Oktoberfest Night Run will be at 6 p.m. Sept. 10 at Freedom Crossing. Pre-race festivities begin at 4 p.m. -- You can choose from the 8K run or the 5K walk. Individual entry costs $15 in advance or $20 on the day of the race. -- Corporate and military unit teams can be from five to 10 members. The cost is $120 per team. -- Information: 568-6741, 568-5995 or 568-0259. ___ (c)2011 the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) Visit the El Paso Times (El Paso, Texas) at www.elpasotimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |