Oktoberfest!

Ooooommm..pa pa!  Strike up the tubas, tune those accordions, dust off your dancin' shoes, and break out the bratwurst.  Oktoberfest has arrived in Mt. Angel, Oregon!

Abbey Church - Mt. Angel Seminary

Mt. Angel is known for putting on the best Oktoberfest celebration around.  Ever since my son Cody began attending seminary in this tiny town, going to Oktoberfest has become an annual tradition.  Held in mid-September, this year I met my brother Dale and his family for the festivities.

Waiting for the bells to ring

Cody was more than happy to show his aunt, uncle and nephews around the seminary.  Located on a hilltop just outside of town, it's a beautiful, peaceful place.  Well.....except when the bells in the Abbey church ring.

Bratwurst time!

There's lots of interesting things to see at Mt. Angel seminary.  The Abbey church is stunningly beautiful.  The library, designed by a world-renowned architect, is an amazing building.  And they even have a museum, showcasing not only religious artifacts, but also a huge collection of taxidermy animals, and the world's largest hairball.

Cody enjoys his brat

After touring the seminary grounds for an hour, our stomachs started to rumble.  High time to head into town for some bratwurst!

The food at Mt. Angel's Oktoberfest is always top-notch.  We stood in a long line, mouths watering, watching the coils of bratwurst cooking on huge griddles.  After enjoying a delicious sausage, curly fries, and an amazing dark German beer, I was ready to peruse the rest of the festival's offerings.

"Party size" kettlecorn

Mt. Angel's streets were lined with booths, hawking every kind of food imaginable.  There was onion rings, funnel cakes, deep-fried oreos (ugh!), and marionberry cobbler (my personal favorite).  One sweet girl was promoting a "party size" bag of kettlecorn.

Der Weingarten

Huge buildings were set up as beer and wine gardens.  For a small fee, one could go inside, enjoy an alcoholic beverage (or two), and enjoy lots of German-themed entertainment.

Harvest decorations in the city square

The town square was decked out in harvest decor.

Time for the chicken dance!

My favorite part of Oktoberfest is the music and dancing.  One intersection is blocked off, ringed by bleachers, with a bandstand on one corner.  There's almost always a band playing, someone singing, or a group dancing.

These girls were great dancers

About the time Cody and I walked by, the band struck up a familiar tune.  It was the chicken dance - my favorite!  A group of young girls in traditional costumes led the crowd in a rousing rendition.

Everyone was having fun

There's nothing I love more than bopping along to a happy tune.  I wiggled along on the sidelines (totally embarrassing my son, tee-hee!)

Max even got in on the dancing

My brother and his family arrived just as the chicken dance was finishing up.  We all took a seat in the bleachers to enjoy more of the show.  The band was great - they launched into another cheerful German tune.  My oldest nephew Max was even brave enough to get up and dance a few jigs (with some bribery from his parents!)

These men performed a traditional dance

Then the band struck up music to a traditional men's dance.  I don't remember the name, but it involved slapping the side of your feet, and there were supposedly contests back in the old world, where men completed to see who was the fastest.  Two guys in lederhosen hopped into the dancing circle and showed us how it's done.  They put on a great show. 

They were very fun to watch

Even if I didn't come from German ancestry, I'd still love Oktoberfest.  Great food, entertaining dancing, and lively, upbeat music - what's not to enjoy?  A happy, fun festival, I look forward to every fall.


Sharing with:  Our World Tuesday.

Oktoberfest!

I have a confession to make ..... I've always secretly loved the chicken dance.  It's such happy, fun music and the dance is a goofy good time.  (I'll bet it's many people's guilty pleasure - they just won't admit it.)

And what better place to get my chicken dance fix than .......OKTOBERFEST!!


Size matters!  Click on any photo to enjoy a larger version.

Cheers!

Ever since Cody started seminary at Mt. Angel, Oktoberfest has given us an excuse to visit.  It's become a family tradition.   This tiny town puts on the best Oktoberfest in the Pacific Northwest.

Harvest monument in the center of town

Mt. Angel is located smack-dab in the heart of the Willamette River Valley farmlands.  The rich soil, temperate climate, and ample rainfall means just about anything grows here - and grows well.  This ensures bountiful yields - and rockin' harvest festivals!

It's not Oktoberfest without bratwurst

After meeting Cody at Mt. Angel Abbey, my hubby, kids and I  headed in to town.  First stop - find us some bratwurst!  And we knew just the place - the Mt. Angel Sausage Company.  This place was prepared for the masses.  They had dozens of grills out front with coils of those yummy German sausages browning.  You could get one with or without sauerkraut and grilled onions.

Lots of cute food carts

All four of us ordered our brats, and then settled inside the Sausage Company's ample dining area.  To my delight, they offered a full bar.  Roger and I each enjoyed a pint of hearty, dark German beer.  Wunderbar!

My kids opt for non-alcoholic beverages

Our bellies satisfied, it was time for some dessert.  And the festival did not disappoint!  Lining the main streets, were food booths of every shape and size, offering a smorgasbord of choices.  My family walked the circuit up and down, before a cart selling marionberry cobbler finally called my name.

A crowd gathers to watch the dancers

I was handed an enormous bowl brimming with delicious purple berries, topped by a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Meaning to share, I grabbed extra spoons.  But Roger only took a couple bites and my kids abstained.  Poor me - I was forced to eat this ginormous confection all by myself!

Young boy dancers

Then we wandered into the town square, ground zero for Oktoberfest action.  A crowd had gathered, and I wormed my way onto the fringe to see what was happening.  A group of young boys had just begun to dance.  

As opposed to "non-original" lederhosen?

I found a fairly clear vantage, and snapped photos of the action.  The boys were performing something that I think was called the "bench dance."  Whatever it was, they did a great job.

Another dance group

After the boys finished, a dozen couples waltzed into the town square.  They began a spirited folk dance that was great fun to watch.  I switched to my zoom lens to better capture all the action.

Spin the lady

What a blast shooting photos of the dancers!  I took way too many shots, but it was good practice.

He's been to a few of these events

This man was sitting right in front of me.  I loved his hat.  What a great collection of pins.  Looks like he's been to quite a few Oktoberfest celebrations!

These dancers know how to have a good time

Here's one more shot of the dancers.  They were very entertaining to watch (and photograph too!)  Looked like everyone was having a blast.

The glockenspiel in the town square

After the dancers were done, the scheduled entertainment took a break. We followed the crowd spilling into the downtown core near Mt. Angel's glockenspiel.  This clock tower, attached to a local restaurant, periodically opens its doors to reveal a host of life-size animated wooden figures.  These carvings put on a show for visitors that commemorates the town's history.  Timing is everything - we happened to wander in just as the tower's doors opened.

Loved the costumes!

I spied a cute older couple decked out in traditional German costume.  They stood by the harvest monument posing for photos.  They must have had an important role in this festival, as Roger spotted their likeness recreated in one of the harvest monument's panels (check out my second photo).

It's time for the chicken dance!

Strolling back towards the performance area, I saw people gathering.  Then I heard a familiar tune.  Was it....?  Yes, it was!  Yahoo!  Time for the chicken dance!

Goofy good fun

Of course, there was no way Roger was gonna do this dance with me (he'd only had one beer - not nearly enough to get him up there).  And my kids would rather die than do the chicken dance with their mother.  So I was left on the sidelines to enjoy as a spectator.  At least I had my camera.  It was good fun capturing this delightful frenzy.

A photo with my kids

But later my kids did consent to one photograph with their mother.  As I keep saying, one day they'll be glad I take all these photos.  (I may not live to see the day though!)

As in previous years, Mt. Angel Oktoberfest 2012 did not disappoint.  Good food, great beer, and rollicking entertainment - this town festival has it all.  Can't wait for Oktoberfest 2013!

(And maybe.....just maybe.......I'll get someone to do the chicken dance with me.)


Linking to:  Share Your Cup Thursday and This or That Thursday.