Citizens with a love of German culture will be clinking steins in celebration of Oktoberfest north of Okotoks this month.
The Calgary Polo Club in DeWinton hosts its inaugural Authentic Three Day Oktoberfest featuring German beer, Bavarian food, live music, a DJ and feats of strength competitions at club’s The Ranch House Sept. 27-29.
Event producer Graham Mitchell said he wants the event to be the largest Oktoberfest in the Calgary area.
“I thought let’s do the biggest Oktoberfest the area has seen and make it authentic,” he said. “Oktoberfests are a really big deal. It’s the only authentic beer festival.”
The adult-only Bavarian event will feature award-winning German-style beers from local breweries, a beer stein-holding competition, keg throwing competitions, a Bavarian market by Edelweiss Imports, real log fire, German car show and cuckoo clocks.
The event runs Sept. 27 from 6 p.m. to midnight and Sept. 28 and 29 from 3 p.m. to midnight.
Mitchell expects the festival to be a hit among Calgarians and Foothills residents alike.
“There are a lot of people in Canada who have Germanic roots,” he said. “There’s a lot of diversity in Canada and a good portion of that diversity comes from Germany and all the Germanic countries.”
Traditionally, Oktoberfest occurs over 14 days starting in late September and ending early October, said Mitchell.
The Ranch House will be decorated in Bavarian style, and will include a 6,000 sq. ft. tent with three bars and plenty of seating.
“The Ranch House is a heritage building with a giant stone fireplace,” said Mitchell. “It’s got a warm feeling to it. We want it to be cozy, all in one experience.”
Beverages will include traditional German beer from Brauerei Fahr and German Schnapps brewed at Eau Claire Distillery. Both are located in Turner Valley.
Those looking to prove their strength can participate in the stein holding competition that has contestants holding large mugs of beer out as long as they can. A keg toss will also prove feats of strength among the brawny and the scrawny.
To keep the atmosphere as Bavarian as possible, Mitchell encourages participants to dress in German garb from dirndls (a classic German dress) to lederhosen (leather trousers).
“You don’t have to be German to be here, but we encourage you to look Bavarian,” he said. “I have a really close connection to the German culture because I lived in Zurich for 10 years and worked for a big Swiss bank there.”
The food is another big draw to this event, with such traditional fare as bratwurst, sourdough pretzels from Munich, sauerkraut and schnitzels.
Tickets are $30. To buy tickets or for more details, including a free shuttle from the Bridlewood C-Train station in Calgary to and from the venue, go to oktoberfestcalgary.com
