Take Me Home, Country Road
Posted by melissamccart on September 29, 2007
The real Oktoberfest just outside Munich ends in a week and a half, on October 10th. When I went a couple of years ago, I thought it would be a nightmarish mix of mullets, bad teeth, and ridiculous Americans– not unlike the crowd at a football game. Though there was plenty of that, it was really fun. What struck me were the number of families that camped out before the 9 am opening hour, secured tables, and wore traditional Bavarian attire. Even kids can tag along, including those under 6, who are allowed in but have to leave tents by 8 pm.
On the official German Oktoberfest site, it says that the first fest was in 1810, “ in honor of the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen.” Future celebrations were moved into September since the weather is warmer.
One thing that any first-timer is likely to remember about the fest is the hourly John Denver tribute to Take Me Home, Country Road. What’s up with that?
Here in Washington, Oktoberfest celebrations are all month long, between today’s on Barracks Row, the huge Blocktoberfest at RFK, Capitol City’s Oktoberfest next Saturday, and Rustico’s “Don’t Hassle the Hof” Brau Fest on the 16th.
Traditionalists can hit up Old Europe any Thursday through Sunday night through the end of the month, and mid-week drinkers who work downtown may want to detour to Cafe Mozart on the 10th and the 24th from 6-9pm for the option to drink the boot.
Homebodies can pick up a Dogfish Head Punkin Ale or a Victory Moonglow Weizenbock six-pack at Whole Foods and play these ridiculous games on the Oktoberfest site: 1) shoot the milkmaid or 2) milk the cow before their udders become so engorged they fall over.
