Oktoberfest
beer drinkers utopia
By Oscar Montealegre
On-line Forty-Niner
Beer,
beer and more beer. In a nutshell, that
is the theme of Oktoberfest at Alpine Village
in Torrance.
For those who enjoy drinking beer in the
company of other people who enjoy guzzling
down beer, Oktoberfest is a utopia.
Oktoberfest’s celebration is held every
Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Sept. 7
to Oct. 27. The crowd on Sunday nights is
usually family-orientated but on Friday
and Saturday there is beer and drunken mayhem.
Oktoberfest is held in Alpine Village’s
beer garden, which is located in the north
parking lot. It begins at 6:30 p.m. until
1 a.m. Those who are under twenty-one
are restricted entrance. Sorry.
The cost of beer is $4.50 for a 16-ounce
cup and a hefty $8.95 for a 32-ounce cup.
Alpine Village brews their own beer, which
is the norm in German villages. But they
also offer domestic beer for those who are
partial to the popular American beer.
In the midst of the American-style Oktoberfest
celebration , a German band played traditional
German music. Beside the stage, couples
and drunken men and women danced to the
music played by Original Weidner Blaskapelle.
“The band is really funny and I love their
costumes.” said personal trainer Kayla Otero.
“Even though I have no idea how to dance
this music correctly, it is still fun to
make an attempt. And everybody else is trying,
so at least I am not the only one that looks
funny.”
Oktoberfest’s origins began in 1810 in Munich.
King Ludwig wanted to celebrate his marriage
to Maria Teresa of Saxonia so he decided
to have a fair dedicated to the fall harvest
and to beer.
People from all over Germany came to participate
in the festival. In addition, beer makers
offered new types of beers and everybody
took advantage of sampling the different
beer of the season.
King Ludwig noticed what a success his festival
had become so he issued a royal decree to
have a festival every October. Hence we
get Oktoberfest, which has spread all over
the world.
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