Red Deerians will have several chances to take part in one of Germany’s biggest celebrations.
There will be multiple Oktoberfest events in and around Red Deer, starting as soon as this weekend.
“Oktoberfest originated back in the 1800s as a fall celebration for the King of Bavaria … and it’s since become a German tradition. It usually starts in the middle of September and runs about three weeks into October,” said Donna Erickson, the German-Canadian Club of Red Deer president.
“Everybody knows a little bit about Oktoberfest and a lot of people like to join in and have fun.”
The club, located at 38167 Range Rd. in Red Deer County, will host an Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 28.
“We’ll have a really nice dinner. We usually have it catered in, because our members are getting older. They used to do all the cooking and everything themselves,” she said.
“Then we get a German band from Calgary. They’ve been providing us with entertainment for quite a few years.”
Erickson said it is a family friendly event.
“We do have people with younger children in our club. I always liken it to a small-town wedding, where everyone from nine months old to 90 years old is welcome to join in,” she said.
There is “quite a big” German community in central Alberta, Erickson said.
“We have about 90 members in our club. Some of the families are into their third generation now.”
But “we don’t just have German people in our club. We should really be called the European Union. We’ve got Swiss, Austrian, Danish people – my husband’s Norwegian. We don’t have any exclusions,” she said.
The Spirit of Red Deer will also host an Oktoberfest celebration this weekend at Westerner Park. The event is sold out.
The Canyon Ski Resort will hold its first Oktoberfest Oct. 19. The family friendly event is described as “a celebration of local community and local beer.”
Tickets can be purchased at either Blindman Brewing or the ski resort.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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