The greatest month of
the year in Fredericksburg, Texas is definitely October. Why is it the best
time of the year? Oktoberfest, it’s as plain and simple as that.
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| festival goers enjoying the polka band |
During the month of October, the air becomes crisp, the
trees start shedding their green summer leaves in preparation for the winter
ahead, and everybody around Texas flocks to Fredericksburg for a three day long
festival filled with $3 beer and wine, great German food, and the chicken
dance.
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| A German chocolate vendors sells homemade fudge to hungry festival goers |
Oktoberfest started for the first time in Fredericksburg
ten years ago and every year it is held the first weekend in October. Walking
in, the eyes become fixed on rows and rows of brightly colored stands selling
greasy food, delicious smelling candies, funny hats, and all the alcohol a
person would ever need. Looking up into the sky, hundreds of German flags wave
delicately in the soft night breeze. In the distance Polka music is playing and
people are laughing and clanking their beer glasses together. It is a friendly
and warm atmosphere; everybody should experience the magic of Oktoberfest at
least once in their lives.
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| two locals celebrating their German heritage |
Fredericksburg, often
called Fritztown, is a town with a very large German Community. The German community
is so big that Fredericksburg is actually notable as the town of Texas German, which
is a dialect spoken by the first generation of German settlers who refused to
learn English. These people are proud of who they are and where they came from,
so even though Oktoberfest is fun for everybody no matter what their heritage
is, this event is a way for the Germans of Fredericksburg to celebrate their
heritage and it is a way for them to travel back to their homeland for a
weekend without actually having to buy a plane ticket. A lot of the vendors
that work at Oktoberfest are German and are very eager to share their little
part of Germany with people from around Texas.
When talking to a Potato pancake Vendor named Stephen
Keefer he said, “My grandparents are both full German so I have experienced a
lot of what my country has to offer. My grandmother actually taught me the
recipe of those pancakes you’re eating.”
Stephen Keefer had such a proud look on his face as he
answered questions and served hungry costumers his delicious piping hot potato
pancakes. He said proudly, “I’ve been working here for all ten years that it
has been open and I have enjoyed every minute of it. Seeing people enjoy my
countries food is extremely rewarding.”
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| UT student, travels to Oktoberfest to enjoy the crawfish sausage |
Even though there are a lot of German vendors working
Oktoberfest, there are also a good amount of people who are not German but love
participating in something so meaningful.
John Price, a crawfish sausage vendor, says, “I’m not
German myself but the German culture is a large part of the Fredericksburg
culture and I love participating in Oktoberfest each year.”
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| local accordian player plays for festival goers |
John is just as proud as all the other vendors
participating in this fantastic event. Fredericksburg is a wonderful city
filled with tradition and pride. Everyone in Texas should drive out to
Fredericksburg to meet these wonderful people and experience their culture for
themselves.
Stephen Keefer says, “We are very proud of who we are and
we want to share it with other people who don’t really know much about us. People
outside the German Heritage come here and realize how nice and welcoming we all
are.”
The people of Fredericksburg should be proud of their
heritage and their community, and they do a great job welcoming people and
giving them a taste of what they are all about. Oktoberfest is an exciting event
for everyone here in Texas, this event makes October the best month of the year.
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