You don’t have to be German to appreciate German beer and food! So, you aren’t in Munich. Who cares? You can bring Oktoberfest to you by throwing your very own celebration. Here’s how…
1. Plan your party during the actual dates of Oktoberfest.
This celebration runs annually from the middle of September into the beginning of October. Choose the date that works best for you and your friends, and stick to it.
2. Go big or go home.
Oktoberfest is a big celebration! Sure, you can do the toned-down, drinking German beer with your buddies party. But, why not really celebrate? Munich’s Oktoberfest doesn’t just stop at beer and food. They also have German music, dancing, and carnival rides! Did you know that you can rent carnival rides for your very own event? Score!
3. Enjoy the great outdoors.
Oktoberfest is an outdoor celebration. If you’re worried about weather being on your side, it’s wise to have a backup venue or rent tents to keep your guests dry. Better yet – if you can host this at a house or venue with enough of both indoor and outdoor space, that’s your winner! Guests can mix and mingle inside or ride carnival rides, or enjoy the music and dance outside. Which brings us to our next point…
4. Music!
Have some! Better yet, have German music. If you really want to get the party started, hire a live polka band! When’s the last time you went to a party with a polka band? This will give your Oktoberfest party an authentic touch that won’t soon be forgotten.
5. German beer is essential.
You just can’t have Oktoberfest without it! Oktoberfest beers are called Märzen, a dark brown, full-bodied beer with a bitter taste. Since it may not be for everyone, it’s best to have a selection of German beers available: Kölsch, Pilsener, Maibock, Hefeweizen, and Doppelbock are popular styles to choose from. Hire a knowledgable bartender to teach your guests a thing or two about German brews!
6. Feed your friends.
You don’t want to host a party that’s all about drinking beer and not serve any food. Trust us. Hire a caterer to make authentic German dishes like sweet and sour cabbage, hot potato salad, hendl, kaiserschmarrn, or ox tails. Alternatively, you can book concessions to serve up bratwurst and soft pretzels.
7. Dress the part.
Chances are, there aren’t a lot of events in your life where it’s appropriate to wear Bavarian costumes. So, take advantage of this opportunity! For men, be on the lookout for lederhosen (leather shorts with suspenders). For the women, you’ll want a dirndl (a dress with a gathered waist, usually worn with an apron).
8. Decorate.
Decorate in black, red, and gold (the colors of the German flag) or cobalt blue and white (the official colors of Bavaria). Find themed decorations relating to Germany, Oktoberfest, and/or beer to tie into your theme! Prost!
Okeechobee KOA is a resort campground in central Florida. We are planning an Oktoberfest weekend and are looking for entertainment suitable for all ages. Our weekend will start with a Friday night welcome party with food, beer and entertainment. Saturday will have more food, entertainment and outdoor games and contests. Sunday will wrap up the weekend with a breakfast and raffel winners. We are interested in polka bands, cloggers, roving acts or anything you might have as a suggestion.
Hi there Wendy! KOA campgrounds really know how to throw a great party. This sounds like a fun way to celebrate! I’ve got a few links here for musical entertainment near Okeechobee:
https://www.gigsalad.com/Music-Groups/Polka-
https://www.gigsalad.com/Solo-Musicians/Bagpiper/FL/Fort+Pierce
And here are several strolling performers who can keep the kiddos entertained too:
https://www.gigsalad.com/Variety/Children-Kids-Entertainment/FL/Fort+Pierce
If you need any assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at 417-889-9909. We’re always happy to show you how GigSalad works. Enjoy your Oktoberfest!
This summer, we were visiting Munich in Bavaria, and amongst things my wife and I were surprised that so many people were wearing lederhosen with the suspenders. They all looked great! There were even some beer cellars and pubs where the women wore Lederhosen too. It was very nice! So after seeing that me and my wife bought ourselves each a lederhosen complete with the suspenders. Mine was a green leather one with the matching suspenders and my wife’s was shiny and black. There were a lot of women wearing the Dirndl too. It’s great that the traditional clothes are still worn in Germany and Austria. And there are so many shops and kiosks selling them in southern Germany, even at the Munich’s main railway station. The prices were reasonable for real thick leather—45 euros! We found that lederhosen and dirndls are sold on Amazon, Ebay, Price minister etc at the same price, so there you go!