New bands, new beers, and new culinary treats will be part of the 52nd annual Mt. Angel Oktoberfest Sept. 14 – 17.
“We don’t want to change from the great traditions of quality entertainment, great beers and wines, incredible foods, and fun for the family,” Monica Bochsler, public relations director for the Oktoberfest all-volunteer board said. “Instead we try to add items that will enhance the great festival.”
On the entertainment front, Oberkreiner Juhej from Slovenia will bring traditional biergarten style to the Alpinegarten.
Dopplebockers, an Oregon band, will entertain with polka in the Biergarten. Festival-goers may remember them from the Wurstfest in February, or may have seen a couple of the musicians when they played with Johnny Limbo’s band.
The Chardon Polka Band is where polka meets punk. The group has an extensive catalog of traditional polkas, but they are not afraid to bring their own tunes into the mix along with polka-pop covers of artists like Justin Bieber and Lady Ga Ga. They will be performing in the Biergarten.
Beers to be featured include Mt. Angel Volksbier – a special collaboration with Hopworks Urban Brewery; Frankenheim Alt – imported by Warsteiner; Hacker-Pschorr – traditional beer straight from Munich; and Andechs – takes over the Prostgarten! with an offering from Dinkelacker. Paulaner beers will reign in the Biergarten, but the menu will mix it up with HUB microbrews.
New activities this year will include ZuZu Acrobats performing in the Kindergarten Saturday and Sunday.
Oktoberfest presents a feast of favorites, and Pro Chefs Oregon will add Schweinshaxe – a cider braised pork shank with baby red potatoes and beer braised red cabbage – to the list. Their booth will be near the Prostgarten. McNary Fine Arts will add grilled tortilla wraps (chicken bacon, pulled pork and veggie) to the things to try, too.
If all this puts you in the mood to indulge in Oktoberfest at its origins, the festival is offering a chance to win a “Passport to Germany.” A $10 ticket puts you into a drawing for airfare from Seattle to anywhere in Germany, courtesy of Lufthansa.
For information visit oktoberfest.org or see the Mt. Angel Shopper Official Oktoberfest Program available Sept. 13 at businesses throughout the area.
