Bear-size party promotes chicken craze

By Jeanine Cardullo, On-Line Forty-Niner

Thursday, October 15, 1998

It must be that time again. What other month of the year can one arrive at a party and watch fully-grown men wearing fuzzy green shorts, hoist beer and dance like chickens?

It is time for Oktoberfest, and while many may head to a local celebration, others may want to travel a little farther. Nestled high in the local mountains, the town of Big Bear is throwing its 28th annual Oktoberfest celebration.

Everyone is invited, including the flatlanders. ("Flatlander" is the quaint nickname given by Big Bear locals to those who have the misfortune of living down the mountain.)

Celebrating Oktoberfest in Big Bear pairs traditional German festivities with a different atmosphere than one would find down the hill.

Here, pine trees, dark skies and bright stars accent the merry-making.

The small time feel may provide an alternative for people weary of citified celebrations.

Every weekend in October, (except Halloween weekend) Big Bear throws a German bash at the town's convention center. The oversized convention room has been temporarily converted to a pseudo-European chalet, complete with locals dressed in traditional German garb and two authentic German bands: The Express Band and the Die Spessartthaler, according to the Big Bear Grizzly Magazine.

Also included are more bratwurst, sauerkraut and brew than one would think a small town could get its hands on.

Oktoberfest competitions are held every Saturday and Sunday night.

Entry to the contest is free and open to the public.

In the log-sawing contest, teams are divided into two-man teams, two-woman teams and the popular Hansel and Gretel teams (mixed doubles).

The team who can completely saw through the log first wins, according to the Grizzly.

The stein-holding contest is just that: men against the men, women against the women, competitors standing and holding full, one-liter beer steins with a fully-extended arms.

The battle of strength quickly becomes a battle of wills as each participant struggles to keep the mug aloft.

As muscles give way and steins begin to drop, the crowd screams for the favorites. The last person holding the stein wins.

Winners of each contest are invited back to the final competition on the last weekend of Oktoberfest, according to the Grizzly.

While the contests are popular, Oktoberfest would not be Oktoberfest without dark German beer, a crowd of friendly strangers and the infamous Chicken Dance. More than once, Oktoberfest crowds in Big Bear have been known to unite and shout, "We want the chicken!" over and over again until the band gives in.

In this timeless tradition, people join in perhaps the oddest dance ever made.

An entire floor of beer-drinking dancers attempt to arm-flap, hip-swivel and tail-waggle in unison.

But it does not stop there. That feat is followed by the song's chorus, at which time strangers link arms and hurl each other around in circles.

During this dance, it is not uncommon to see otherwise normal individuals don bright-yellow chicken hats.

The German bands in Big Bear are slowly learning to combat the chicken craze.

After too many demands for the chicken dance, Die Spessartthaler has been known to retaliate with La Macarena.