Mountain Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake California

Seven Weekends of Gemucklickheit Starting September 13, 2008

Sep 1, 2008

Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake in Southern California is rated one of the top German Festivals in the U.S.. The festival is held weekends September 13 -October 25, 2008.

Big Bear Lake, located high in the San Bernardino Mountain, is a great place to party German style, at the 38th annual Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest. The popular festival is a weekend event that begins on September 13 and runs though the weekend of October 25, 2008. Food, music, dancing and Bavarian hijinks are all part of a Oktoberfest celebration,and Big Bear Lake, in Southern California, offers them all. Big Bear Lake is a scenic mountain area within driving distance from Los Angeles in Southern California. Big Bear is a terrific place celebrate an Alpine style Bavarian party in the United States.

Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake is rated the number one German Oktoberfest festival in California and one of the top three in the country, according to the official festival website. Dance the polka, listen to music , enjoy the entertainment and German dancing and consume cold beer and hot food. Gemutlickheit is the enjoyment of well being that comes with cold beer, good food and great company. Gaudi is the enjoyment of fun and good times. Oktoberfest rates high in Gaudi and Gemutlickheit!

Entertainment and German Toasts

Lively entertainment includes the Oktoberfest Queen Stein Carrying Contest, Danube Swabian Dancers, Big Bear Polka Tots, Joyful Noise Cloggers and German bands. On weekends one, two, six and seven, The Express, the premiere German Band of Southern California is featured. Weekends three through five features The Rhonland-Echo Band, direct from Germany.

Get up and dance the Chicken Dance and join in toasts and beer drinking songs. Sing along to Eins, Zwei, Drei, G'Suffa, which translates to One, Two Three, Drink! Raise the glass high. This may be followed by a cheer that goes Zicka-Zicke, Zicka-Zicke, Zicka-Zicke, HoI! Hoi! Hoi!. This cheer does not translate to anything. It is a fun soccer cheer from Northern Germany. Prost!

Beer and Food

Often considered a beer drinking festival, the beer menu at Oktoberfest features authentic German beer. Oktoberfest at Big Bear Lake pours authentic German beers, including Warsteiner Pilsner, Warsteiner Dunkel, Warsteiner Oktoberfest, King Ludwig Hefeweisen, Budweiser, Bud Light, Amber Bock, Red Hook Blonde and Jack's Pumpkin Spice. Wine drinkers can imbibe in Merlot, Chardonnay, White Zinfindel and Riesling.

The fresh mountain air at Big Bear Lake stirs up an appetite, which is satisfied with hearty German sausages and side dishes, such as sauerkraut, Bavarian dumplings and German pickles. German meals at Oktoberfest include bratwurst, knockwurst, Polish sausage, oven baked chicken and roast beef. Finish off the tasty meal with a slice of apple strudel with vanilla sauce.

American Heroes Free Admission Opening Weekend

The first weekend of the festival offers a break to American Heroes. Free admission is offers to all past and present law enforcement, fire fighters and military. Proper ID must be shown.

O'Doul's Complimentary Shuttle

O'Doul's offers a complimentary shuttle, to prevent drinking and driving. The shuttle starts running at 6:00 pm on Saturday evening and transports partiers anywhere in Big Bear Valley. This is a service to get people home, or to their hotel. The shuttle will not stop at another bar.

Designated Drivers Program

In order to encourage responsible driving, the festival provides non-alcoholic beverages to designated drivers, with an I.D. bracelet.

Tickets

Big Bear Lake Driving Distances

Big Bear Lake is approximately 100 miles from Los Angeles, 145 miles from San Diego and 100 miles from the San Fernando Valley

Enjoy the Gemulickheit at Big Bear Lake Oktoberfest and raise glasses high! Prost! For additional information see official Big Bear Lake Events website.

The copyright of the article Mountain Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake California in California Travel is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Mountain Oktoberfest in Big Bear Lake California in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.