COMMUNITY

Oktoberfest puts the "oom" in "oom pah pah"

Oktoberfest sprang from a royal German wedding reception

Dianne L Stallings
Ruidoso News
  • Popular acts return this year and new ones are added

 

 

No matter where your ancestors took root, the annual Ruidoso Oktoberfest offers a celebration of German music, dance, traditions, food and libations that everyone can enjoy.

Two women dressed in the traditional Dirndl style added color to last year's event. The Drirndl is a traditional feminine dress worn in Austria, South Tyrol, and Bavaria, and is based on the clothing of peasants in the Alps.

Marking its 36th anniversary this weekend in the mountain resort community, the Ruidoso Oktoberfest also generates revenue that ultimately benefits a variety of Lincoln County charities.

Begun by a small group in 1981, the much-anticipated event became a favorite of both locals and visitors. For more than three and a half decades, the cooler nights and warm days that herald the golden aspens have been welcomed by the traditional German festival, set this year for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 20-21, at the Ruidoso Convention Center.

Music and dancing all day long from groups such as the Band Family Holler.

“We’re bringing back an exceptional group from Piesendorf, Austria to help celebrate,” organizer Mark Doth said. “Seppi Holler, a former Austrian national accordian champion, joined us at the 2003 Ruidoso Oktoberfest. His brothers, Daniel and Gunther made the trip from Europe for the first time in 2007.”

This year, Seppi and Gunther Holler will be joined on stage by Philipp Rofner. Known in their country as the "Familie Holler," these talented musicians have been entertaining Austrians for many years with a mix of both traditional and original music.

The addition of a true Austrian band to the Ruidoso Oktoberfest fits well into the fall celebration. Now in its 184th year, the first Oktoberfest was staged in 1810 as a wedding celebration for Bavaria’s King Ludwig I and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. It didn’t take long for the fun-loving Bavarians to replace the horse races, agricultural shows and other distractions with a focus on great beer, music, dancing and food.

Log cutting competitions demand coordination.

The wedding reception was such a success that Ludwig issued a royal decree making October festival time in Munich, Germany. The festival was dedicated to the fall harvest and to the region’s most famous product, beer. This year, 6.5 million visitors attended the Oktoberfest in Munich. They consumed 127 oxen, 59 calves and drank 7.5 million liters of beer.

In the same tradition, Ruidoso’s Oktoberfest has become a much-loved annual celebration, Doth said.

“Our entertainers are a big part of the festival” he said. In addition to Familie Holler, the Albuquerque bands Swingshift and Die Polka Schlingel will get the crowds dancing. Crowd favorites, the German Air Force Schuhplattlers, will return this year with traditional folk dancing.

A crew fed bratwursts to hundreds of attendees at last year's Oktoberfest.

The Ruidoso Oktoberfest offers something for everyone, and the “Kinderhall” provides games, prizes, and pumpkin decorating for children. Throughout the main hall, arts and crafts booths feature terrific local and regional talents. 

The libations that have made Oktoberfest famous the world over flow in abundant supply at the Ruidoso event.

“We have plenty of imported German beer and authentic German food,” Doth said. “We’re known for the wonderful food and drink that our vendors provide. This is a really fun-filled family celebration. You’ll see kids ages two to 90 out there doing the chicken dance or the polka, and it’s all for a good cause.”

The Ruidoso Oktoberfest is presented by Special Events Resource Group. SERG is a non-profit corporation formed with the purpose of providing funds to benefit legitimate and recognized charities and fund education scholarships for the youth of Lincoln County. Since its beginnings in 1999, SERG has contributed more than $190,000 to Lincoln County charities, Doth said.

Tickets to the Ruidoso Oktoberfest are $10 per day for adults or $18 for two days. Young adults 13to 17 are $6. Children 12 and under are free. Event hours are from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20;  noon to 11 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 21.

For more information, call 575-257-6171 or visit the Ruidoso Oktoberfest website at www.oktoberfestruidoso.com or check it out at www.facebook.com/RuidosoOktoberfest.

The convention center is at 111 Sierra Blanca Drive in Ruidoso.

Schedule of Events for Friday is from 5 p.m. to 6:40 p.m. - Swingshift; from 6:40 p.m. to 8:40 p.m. - Familie Höller; from 8:40 pm. to 9:10 p.m. - Ft. Bliss Schuhplattler dance troupe; and from 9:10 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Die Polka Schlingel.

Performances on Saturday are from noon to 1:30 p.m. - die  Polka Schlingel; from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., Ft. Bliss Schuhplattler dance troupe; from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Familie Höller; from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.- Swingshift; from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Die Polka Schlingel; from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Ft. Bliss Schuhplattler dance troupe; from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Familie Höller; and from 9 p.m. to 10:45 p.m. – Swingshift.