Oktoberfest in Durham

We here at NC Beer Explorer take our craft beer seriously at times. We approach our subject matter reverently because we hear stories from people who invested their life savings in their breweries, slept on the floor during their first boil, and named their award-winning beer after their beloved father, may he rest in peace.

Then there’s Oktoberfest.

Alles ist gut!

Our Beer Bro/Babe Shereé joined us for the festivities last Saturday afternoon as we began our escapades at Oktoberfest in Durham Central Park. We strolled around and talked to complete strangers as if they were our new besties (everyone was terrific), and we even got to say hello to Chris Creech, Owner/Head Brewer of The Glass Jug Beer Lab, the host for the event.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so several pictures must be worth a half million! Here’s a photo gallery of what Durham Central Park Oktoberfest looked like.

But seriously, volks...

What is Oktoberfest ?

Yes, friends, that time of year is upon us when serious-minded citizens don lederhosen and dirndls and take to the street for a celebration of German beer and food. Whether your ancestors embarked from Bavaria or traveled from Tunisia, during Oktoberfest, everyone is German, much like everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.

So, where and when did this popular celebration originate, and what is its significance? According to web sources, Oktoberfest is significant as a global cultural phenomenon celebrating Bavarian traditions, stemming from the 1810 royal wedding in Munich. It fosters cultural exchange and community by bringing people together for beer, food, music, and parades, all while showcasing and promoting traditional Bavarian craftsmanship and identity.

We at NC Beer Explorer might not fully understand the cultural nuances and tradition behind Oktoberfest, but we definitely embrace all the fun and the best German beer styles from NC Breweries. Oktoberfest has you covered, from Helles to Dunkel to Marzen — and there’s also pumpkin beer, if that’s your thing.

Next, we made our way over to Durham Beer Garden where another Oktoberfest event was in FULL SWING. Here’s what that looked like.

Here’s a video of what it sounded like.

Here’s what the Durham Beer Garden Oktoberfest sounded like (for better or worse).

There were many highlights from the wonderful time we had at both Oktoberfest events, so we’ll just share a few. We ran into a delightful couple in costume at the first event, and then later, we watched as the same couple won the costume contest at Durham Beer Garden. (We regret not writing down their names, as we completely forgot as the beers/days passed). Also, a group of friends was throwing a surprise birthday party at the beer garden, and the theme was “Wig Out!” Never have we seen so many trashy mullets and poxy Guns N’ Roses doppelgangers together in one place.

In contrast to all the bad hair, there were plenty of glorious, gorgeous, charismatic, and handsome hounds at both events. Whether small or large, all the canines demonstrated their best doggy manners as they relished the sunshine and basked in the festivities.

You may have missed out on the events we enjoyed last Saturday, but there’s still plenty of time to get in on the Oktoberfest action! Just head over to your favorite NC brewery or tap room, and “Roll Out the Barrel” (polka dancing is optional).

What do you like about Oktoberfest?