The annual German bier festival returns to Principal Park this year, with new additions and a handful of changes. Here's everything you need to know about celebrating Oktoberfest in Des Moines this weekend. Prost!
First things first. Where is it? When is it? Oktoberfest is 4 p.m.-midnight Friday and 1 p.m.-midnight Saturday at Principal Park, 1 Line Drive. Admission is $8 per day, and includes an Oktoberfest mug.
So what was the deal with "Rocktoberfest?" This spring, it was reported that organizers planned to change the event's name to Rocktoberfest to give the festival a face-lift to boost attendance. The intention was to end the traditional polka music at 7 p.m. and focus more on rock bands.
But Oktoberfest organizer Melanie Doser said there was never a plan to make an official name change. "We never meant for the name to be printed differently, but the format has been changed a bit to appeal to the masses," Doser told the Register earlier this month.
Can I still get my groove on to an accordion and a tuba? You bet. There will still be polka music until 7 p.m., plus other traditions, like the tapping of the keg, Oktoberfest games and the Bier Maiden contest. If your moves pair better with rock, there will be five hours of live music once the upright basses are put away.
Isn't Oktoberfest supposed to be in September? The Dave Matthews Band concert, held last Friday, helped inspire the event to move back a week. You can't really argue with a band that sold out the venue within days of tickets going on sale. Traditionally, an Oktoberfest celebration takes place during the 16 days before the first Sunday in October. So technically, we made the cut. The original celebration in Munich, Germany, runs through Oct. 4 this year.
What's new this year? The event will start an hour later on Saturday, at 1 p.m. Also, the lights will be turned down a bit, there will be two stages instead of one, and the space will feel cozier.
"We realized last year that it was a little bright and spread out, and we wanted to fix that this year," Doser said. "We also added another stage so that the music was continuous. As soon as one band is finished, another will start."
There will also be more games, including ladder golf, and more space for a relay and cornhole contest.
Just like last year, there will also be two hours of free beer sampling on Saturday. From 2-4 p.m., seven local breweries will provide festival-goers with samples of their craft beers.
What's the food and booze situation? You can sip on traditional German beers like Spaten, as well as American German brews such as Sam Adams Octoberfest, Lienie's Oktoberfest and New Belgium's Hoptober. There will also be a couple domestic choices for those who can't handle the heavy stuff. All beers are $5 for a 16-ounce mug. Need a base for all that booze? Chow down on German brats and kielbasa sausages for $5, German potato salad for $3 and German sauerkraut for $2.
How can I win the Bier Maiden contest? Start working on your belch. "The winner is the girl who can chug beer the longest and belch the loudest," Doser said. "And I think your chances of winning are pretty slim if you don't wear a Gretchen costume."
Konnen sie belehren mich einige deutsche Spruche? (Can you teach me some German sayings?)
"I need a beer, please." - "Ich benotige ein bier, bitte."
"I love dancing jigs to polka music!" - "Ich liebe tanzen jigg zu polka musik!""Especially when I've had too much to drink." - "Vor allem, wenn Ich zu viel zu trinken."
(From freetranslation.com.)
