Oktoberfest is This Weekend in Waukesha for 2nd Year

The second annual Oktoberfest at the is taking place this Friday, Sept. 23, from 5 p.m. until midnight, and Saturday, Sept. 24, from noon until midnight.

Pam Reetz, organizer for the event, said that it started after an approach by Hofbrau beer to do a festival in the Waukesha area. The fest will be authentically German, from the food to the music and dancers.

There are a great many varieties of reason to attend and many people with German heritage around the Waukesha area.

“I think it’s something to increase the appreciation of their [people in this area] heritage, [but] people certainly don’t have to be German to have fun,” said Reetz.

The opening on Friday night will feature a fish fry by Kokopelli’s for $9 featuring cod, potato pancakes, rye bread and coleslaw. Hofbrau beer will, of course, be available through the course of the event as well.

Other tasty treats from Kokopelli’s such as schnitzel sandwiches, Reuben rolls, bratwurst, German pulled pork, liverwurst on rye, soft Bavarian pretzels, sweet potato fries and deep fried green beans, will be available also. From 7 p.m. until 11 p.m. on Friday, the music begins with the Austrain Expresss the featured band of the evening. There will also be the Oberlander Dancers.

On Saturday, the competition will be fierce with a Sheepshead tournament beginning at 1 p.m. and expecting to last until about 4:30 p.m. Entrance into the tournament is $5 and the normal festival entry fee is waived for those playing.

Reetz said that they are hoping to have 50 Sheepshead players that day. Those who wish to participate can preregister by calling the Waukesha Expo Center at 262-548-7200 or can register on the day of the tournament.

For musical enjoyment Saturday evening will be Peggy Mueller on the button box, otherwise known as the accordion, and her husband Hans on spoons. They play from 4 p.m. until 7.p.m when Blaskapelle Milwaukee takes over with traditional Bavarian/Austrian/German music. They will even be all decked out in lederhosen.

Both nights people can partake in Masskrugstemmen, which is a Bavarian sport to see who will be able to hold their beer the longest. Participants will need to be the last one holding a mug filled with 1-liter of beer perpendicular to their body, without spilling or bending their arms, to win.

Reetz said that as the festival grows and has more daytime hours, they may expand to include activities for children as well. This year they are not including activities on Sunday, Sept. 25, due to the Packers vs. Bears game.

It costs $5 to enter the festival. There is also a two-for-one coupon on their website.