With a rich heritage of German immigrants, New Orleans gets ready to celebrate one of the quintessential Deutsch traditions that comes with the fall: Oktoberfest.
Drinking beer during Octoberfest at Deutsches Haus in New Orleans on Friday, October 22, 2021. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
For three weekends, Deutsches Haus celebrates the Bavarian festival on this side of the Atlantic Ocean with a bounty of brats and brews, music and more on Fridays and Saturdays, starting Oct. 11-12 and continuing Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26 at 1700 Moss St.
More than 25 different types of German and Austrian beers and wines will be available to lubricate the festivities, as well as more than 20 types of schnapps. Nonalcoholic beers will be available, as well as other adult beverages and soft drinks.
Cooking bratwurst for Octoberfest at Deutsches Haus in New Orleans on Friday, October 22, 2021. (Photo by Chris Granger | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate)
Oktoberfest is the ‘wurst’ of times
And to enjoy with those quaffs will be a smorgasbord of mouthwatering German goodies, including brats, saukraut, cheeses, Bavarian-style pretzels, schnitzel, dinners, desserts and a whole lot of -wursts. There will also be flammkuchen, a German variation on pizza, kid-friendly nuggets and burgers, and “brachos,” nachos with brat crumbles and cheese sauce.
Blaskapelle (brass band) Lüchtringen will perform at Deutsches Haus during Oktoberfest Oct. 11.
Work off the extra calories with lively dancing to a variety of “oompah music” and other tunes from local and international bands, including the Blaskapelle Lüchtringen, a brass band touring the United States from central Germany. The 32-piece band will be featured Friday at 4:15 p.m., just before the 6 p.m. opening ceremonies. They will later join the Bier Musikanten for more tunes.
Other groups to perform include The Klaberheads (a three-generation group from Ohio), The Brats, Bayou Bavarians, Wurst Case Scenario, Prost, Rocky’s Holy Schnitzel Polka Band and the 610 Stompers.
Daily beer stein holding contests, masskrugstemmen, will be held. Also, chicken dancers will flap about daily. Also on tap will be “Schnitzelbank,” a humorous German song with audience participation.
A chicken dances, but not the chicken dance.
A 6K race will be Saturday from the haus to the Fairgrounds Race Track next door.
The second weekend, the Schnauzer Strut dog parade and costume contest, sponsored by Schnauzer Rescue of Louisiana, will roll Oct. 19 at 3:30 p.m., with prices for costumes. All breeds of pooches are welcome. Register at nolaschnauzer.com.
Admission to the fest is $10 at the gate. Visit oktoberfestnola.com.