Originating in Munich, Oktoberfest (Wies) is a German festival that spread across the globe. With a rich history, Oktoberfest celebrates traditional German food, beer, games, and events in a revelry stretching across multiple weeks. By hosting an Oktoberfest party at your restaurant, you can showcase your beer pairing menus and attract customers seeking to celebrate the festival with friends. Check out some Oktoberfest ideas for food, beer, and activities. Click any of the links below to learn more about Oktoberfest: Oktoberfest Explained Oktoberfest-Themed Party Ideas Sample Oktoberfest Menu Oktoberfest Event Ideas Oktoberfest Beer Oktoberfest Origins Top Oktoberfest Celebrations in the US What Is Oktoberfest? Oktoberfest is the largest folk and beer festival in the world. Originating in the Bavarian city of Munich, Germany, cities across the globe celebrate this festival with German food and beer. Approximately six million people don traditional Bavarian clothing and flock to Munich's Oktoberfest annually. These revelers attend parades, play classic German games, and consume an average of 7 million liters of beer in two weeks. Traditional Oktoberfest Food Traditional Oktoberfest food options include mouthwatering entrees and appetizers ranging from classic schnitzel to rouladen, brats, and cabbage rolls. Spaetzle is a perfect side dish, while soft pretzels are a delicious, hearty snack. For dessert, offer Lebkuchen, strudel, or Black Forest cake. Of course, beer is a must-have at Oktoberfest, but you can also add lemon Spezi to your menu for a refreshing, non-alcoholic beverage. When Does Oktoberfest Start? Modern Oktoberfest celebrations begin in mid-September and last until the first week of October. The September start date raises skepticism among many who wonder why the festival is named "Oktoberfest" if it starts in September. Oktoberfest originally started and ran its course in October, but they moved it into September so attendees can enjoy warmer weather. Will Munich have Oktoberfest 2023? Yes, the 2023 Oktoberfest celebration will take place from September 16th to October 3rd. It is the 188th Oktoberfest celebration. Though Munich canceled past Oktoberfests to ensure the safety of prospective attendees, the festival is back on and widely anticipated in 2023. Oktoberfest Party Ideas If you want to bring Oktoberfest to your restaurant or bar, check out these Oktoberfest-themed party ideas to help plan your event. 1. Host a Ceremonial Keg Tapping Germany’s Oktoberfest can’t begin until the mayor of Munich taps a ceremonial keg of beer and proclaims, “O’Zapft is!” or “It's tapped!” Beginning with a similar spectacle generates excitement. Gain media exposure by inviting your city's mayor or a local celebrity to tap your first Oktoberfest keg. 2. Use Oktoberfest Decor Traditional Oktoberfest decor features a blue and white checkered pattern as seen on the flag of Bavaria. Decorate your tables with these classic checkered tablecloths, and switch out your usual napkins for black, red, and gold to represent the German flag. 3. Provide Traditional German Music Many people associate Oktoberfest with old-fashioned Oompah music played by brass instruments and accordions. However, Germany’s modern Oktoberfest playlist includes top 40 hits. For your restaurant's Wiesn, choose the music that best fits your audience. 4. Play Oktoberfest Games Hosting Oktoberfest games turns your party into a full-blown event. You can charge participation fees to generate profits. Below are the most popular Oktoberfest games. Yodeling Competition: Popular in Bavaria and fun around the world, a yodeling competition is a traditional Oktoberfest game that requires little to no setup or supplies. Masskrugstemmen (Stein Holding): This Oktoberfest game tests your guests' strength and endurance by challenging them to hold a full stein above 90 degrees. Whoever lasts the longest wins. Chicken Dancing: Joyful groups of people dancing the chicken dance have become a staple at Oktoberfest events. This Oktoberfest party idea provides fun for the entire family. You only need music and a large enough space for people to break out their best moves. Sausage Eating Contest: Another all-ages activity, sausage eating contests are a fun Oktoberfest game. Consider crowning the winner the "Sausage King/Queen" and keeping previous years' winners on display to spark annual interest within your community. Beer Stein Race: Challenge guests to see how many filled beer steins they can run with. If they spill, they're out! Keg race: This game requires two teams to roll a keg from a starting point to the finish line. The team that finished with the lowest time is proclaimed the winner. A traditional keg race requires hay bales. However, you can design your course as you see fit. Oktoberfest Menu Ideas To cultivate an immersive Oktoberfest experience, you must put together a menu for the occasion. Below, we compiled a list of German foods for every course, ensuring that you create an authentic Oktoberfest celebration. 1. Oktoberfest Appetizers Appetizers allow guests to prepare for their main course, and they can choose between various German-inspired options. Consider offering the following foods on your menu to enhance your guest’s Oktoberfest experience. Soft pretzels: As one of the most widely recognizable German foods, soft pretzels are a great way to start your Oktoberfest meal. Serve them with German mustard to complete this appetizer. Cheese plates: Pair German cheeses like Limburger, Muenster, and Butterkase with pumpernickel or rye bread. Kartoffelpuffer: Also known as potato pancakes, this traditional German dish is often consumed at Christmas time. However, their versatile design makes them the perfect addition to any menu. For an authentic experience, serve them alongside sour cream or applesauce. 2. Oktoberfest Entrees Serving authentic German entrees is an integral part of any Oktoberfest party. Not only does it keep your guests satisfied, but it allows you to experiment with new menu options. The following entrees are excellent additions to your Oktoberfest menu: Sausages: For this classic main course, try serving bratwurst, bierwurst, or knockwurst with crusty rolls. Schnitzel: This dish is made of pounded pork, veal, or turkey cutlets. Schnitzel experts carefully bread the meat and fry it. Roast chicken: Munich's Oktoberfest attendees consume thousands of rotisserie-roasted chickens annually. If you don’t have one, you can purchase a rotisserie or serve oven-roasted chicken. 3. Oktoberfest Side Dish No meal is complete without a side dish. Add these traditional German foods to your menu to create a more immersive Oktoberfest celebration: Sauerkraut: This traditional German side is made of finely cut fermented cabbage. Make your own if you want a fresher, more aromatic flavor. Potato salad: German-style potato salad contains red potatoes, bacon, and mustard. Spaetzle: Similarly to pasta, you can make spaetzle from dough that is cut into small pieces and boiled. 4. Oktoberfest Dessert Germany is renowned for introducing and inspiring a variety of popular desserts. To create additional buzz about your Oktoberfest celebration, consider offering these authentic German treats: Black Forest cake: Black Forest cake, referred to as Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte, is a chocolate sponge cake layered with whipped cream and kirsch-infused cherries and topped with a chocolate ganache or rimmed in chocolate shavings. It traditionally contains alcohol because kirsch is a clear brandy produced by double distilling morello cherries. Kirsch is made in the Black Forest of Germany. Apple strudel: This sweet dish contains apple slices, spices, and nuts rolled in pastry and baked until crispy. Plum knodel: To make these dessert dumplings, plums are wrapped in a dough made from potatoes and flour, and then they are boiled and rolled in bread crumbs. 5. Oktoberfest Drinks No Oktoberfest celebration would be complete without drinks. Whether you’re drinking from a traditional German beer boot or planning a more lowkey celebration, these drinks are the perfect way to make a memorable celebration: Beer: As the cornerstone beverage of this festival, beer is a must-have for your Oktoberfest party menu. For added festivity, limit your offerings to German imports or bready and dark beers that are perfect for fall. Orange cola: Mimic a popular German soft drink by mixing equal parts of cola and orange soda. Apfelschorle: Provide guests with another non-alcoholic option by combining equal parts of apple juice and sparkling water. Lemon Spezi: Add a delicious mocktail to your menu by combining cola and lemonade for a refreshing, German beverage. Back to Top Oktoberfest Event Ideas Beyond serving traditional German beer and food, your restaurant can incorporate a variety of Oktoberfest promotions. This can help to generate interest and increase customer engagement. Three of the top ways to do so include: Creating a Biergarten: Increase your patio dining space's profitability by temporarily transforming it into a themed Biergarten for Oktoberfest. Oktoberfest Trivia: Offering Oktoberfest trivia at your restaurant or taproom encourages friendly competition and can attract larger groups. Discounted Beer Delivery Packages: Celebrate Oktoberfest in 2023 by offering discounted beer delivery packages and unique craft/imported to-go beer bundles. What Is Oktoberfest Beer? The beers sold at Munich's Oktoberfest carry the official Oktoberfestbier® trademark. To safeguard tradition, quality, and cultural identity, the festival in Munich only serves beers brewed in Munich that meet the uncompromising standards of the Edict of Purity. The 1516 Edict of Purity (Reinheitsgebot) specified that Bavarian beers must only contain barley, hops, and water. In modern Germany, the Reinheitsgebot was replaced by the less stringent "Giergesetz" (The Beer Law). However, Oktoberfest beers are held to the Edict of Purity's standards. Six Munich breweries carry the official Oktoberfestbier® trademark, and they alone brew the beers served at each Oktoberfest event. Paulaner Hacker-Pschorr Augustiner Hofbrau Lowenbrau Spaten The Evolution of Oktoberfest Beer While we can broadly categorize the types of beers served at global Oktoberfest celebrations as lagers, Oktoberfest beers have evolved over the centuries. 1810: When Oktoberfest first began in 1810, the beer of Munich was the dark lager Dunkel. 1872: A type of amber beer called Marzen became popular in Munich in 1872. Marzen (March) beers were brewed in the spring and left to ferment over the summer to prepare for the Oktoberfest event. Marzens served at Oktoberfest contain a higher alcohol content (ABV) than other varieties. Early Oktoberfest Marzens had a biscuity, malty taste and aroma. To this day, American brewers make Marzens in this sweet style for our Oktoberfest events by incorporating Munich and caramel malts. However, amber-colored, sweet Marzens are no longer served at Munich's modern Oktoberfest. 20th Century: As the 20th century progressed, Munich's Oktoberfest beers were made with increasingly paler malts. Modern Oktoberfest beers served at Munich's Oktoberfest are golden-hued. History of Oktoberfest The first Oktoberfest kicked off on October 12th, 1810, and concluded with a horse race five days later to commemorate the marriage celebration of the Bavarian crown prince, Ludwig, and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. They were benevolent rulers who opened their marriage celebration festival to the public of Munich and continued the tradition each year to foster community. Best Oktoberfest Celebrations in the US Some of the best Oktoberfest celebrations in the United States take place in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fredericksburg, Texas; and Reading, Pennsylvania. While the biggest Oktoberfest celebration remains in Munich with over 6 million people attending annually, cities around the world have adopted this festival to welcome the changing season. Back to Top By hosting an Oktoberfest celebration at your restaurant, you can unleash your creativity through temporary decorations and seasonal menu items. Bringing the vibrant spirit of this German festival to your establishment can also attract a fresh wave of customers searching for autumn events. Before diving into the realm of German recipes, explore this blog for a treasure trove of Oktoberfest party ideas specifically tailored for restaurants.
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