By Jenny Erie
The end of September brings about one of the fondest memories from all of our study abroad experiences. It reminds us of a happy drunken time that we spent in Munich with good friends making new friends over schweinshaxen and steins of beer.
Last year, Bus2alps took hundreds of students every weekend to Munich to celebrate the Oktoberfest in true style. And now that we are going back again this year, we can’t help but feel sorry for those of you in the States who are unable to join us again.
With the help of our own research, and CNN’s article “Oktoberfest Closer to Home: Five U.S. festivals” published on September 25, 2012, you can continue the Oktoberfest celebration in your home city! Although nothing will ever be as epic as the real deal, these are all festivals that bring the spirit of Oktoberfest closer to home.
1. World Beer Festival. St. Petersberg, FL and Durham, NC.
This festival is presented by All-Beer Magazine and visits more than one city. You can drink up to 250 different types of beer!
2. Louisville Craft Beer Week. Louisville, KY.
This is the South’s Oktoberfest. Drawing thousands of people every year it’s filled with eating contests, rides, and celebratory events all week long!
3. Texas Craft Brewers Festival. Austin, TX
Texas’ largest annual beer festival is sure to be a good time featuring more than 30 Texan breweries!
4. New Orleans on Tap. New Orleans, LA
Bringing animal cruelty awareness and beer drinking together, this beer festival is one of the most popular in the country! Nothing is better than enjoying massive good brews with friends while ssupporting a good cause.
5. Schuylkill Brewfest. Pottsville, PA
Home to America’s oldest brewery, you are sure to sense the traditions of Oktoberfest at this festival! “Basically what we’re doing is celebrating the traditional brewing of German beer in the home of America’s oldest brewery,” said Keri Johnson, communications coordinator for Schuylkill County. Oktoberfest lovers what more could you ask for?
6. Leavenworth Oktoberfest, Leavenworth, WA
The Leavenworth Oktoberfest festival is close to my home in Washington State. It doesn’t get any more Bavarian than this folks! Leavenworth is a small town tucked in the North Cascade mountains and completely modeled after a Bavarian village. Even the McDonald’s looks like a German Chalet!
The Leavenworth Oktoberfest is a complete replica of Munich’s Oktoberfest, but on a small scale. You can drink Hofbrau beer, eat traditional German foods, and sing all the same Bavarian songs as they do at Oktoberfest. Bring your drindl and lederhosen!
There are plenty of ways to cure your Oktoberfest withdrawals in the US, get out there and spread the beer loving cheer and Bus2alps will be sure to “prost!” in your honor.
(Source: CNN)
