We may not observe a two-week-long Oktoberfest like the Germans do, but the festivities kick off here in Jacksonville with the inaugural Oktoberfest @ Art Walk. Here are 11 random reasons to celebrate this great holiday.
1. Beer makes these guys oh-so-happy.
Last year, Oktoberfest visitors consumed about seven million liters of beer in two weeks.
2. Traditional German fair, like grilled Herring on a stick may not be your thing, but who doesn’t love those big, soft pretzels?
Herring on a stick, also known as steckerlfisch. Circa 1928.
3. It’s also a wedding celebration!!
Oktoberfest originally started as a wedding celebration for Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. They decided it should be a yearly event, even if the Prince was said to be a philanderer.
4. It’s a great time to practice self-control so you don’t wind up like this guy, a Bierleichen, a.k.a. a “beer corpse.”
“Bierleichen” refers to people who drink themselves into a state of unconsciousness.
5. Or this guy:
Beer was not available at the first Oktoberfest.
6. Or this guy:
Last year, Oktoberfest visitors tried to smuggle out 63,000 empty beer glasses for free souvenirs.
7. You never know whom you’ll meet, befriend or fall in love with.
Approximately six million people celebrate in Munich.
8. There’s shoe slapping, dancing and singing by the really talented …and the really inebriated.
We hope you remember the Chicken Dance from grade school.
9. Every girl who saw Coyote Ugly and wanted to dance on table gets an opportunity to live the dream.
Beer carts and a carnival-like atmosphere replaced horse races in 1819.
10. Your lederhosen will double as a great Halloween costume.
Traditional visitors wear hats with a tuft of goat hair. More tufts on the hat, the wealthier you are considered.
11. Did we mention the delicious beer?
In Germany, Oktoberfest beer is brewed with 0.6 to 1.1% more alcohol and sugar than the average German beer.
So remember, whatever you do during the celebration…don’t be these guys.
And don’t drink and drive.
We hope you’ll join us on October 2, from 5-11 p.m. for this first-ever Art Walk benefit. Full details at iloveartwalk.com.