City to get first taste of world-famous Oktoberfest
A taste of Bavaria will come to Galway next month when a mini Oktoberfest is held in the city for the first time.
The Oktoberfest is a world-famous beer festival and funfair which has been held annually in Munich since 1810, when it was first held to mark the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen.
Now, more than 200 years later, a taste of the festival is coming to Galway City when The Trappers Inn on the Tuam Road hosts a five-day mini festival, Oktoberfest Beag, from Wednesday, October 14 to Sunday, October 18.
The event will be housed in a marquee, representative of those seen at the German Oktoberfest, where traditional Bavarian dishes such as bratwurst, Schweinsbraten and Rinderbraten, as well as charcuterie and vegetarian boards will be served, along with Paulaner beer and ‘bocksbeutel’ shaped wines from the famed Franconia region.
People are invited to don lederhosen and alpine accessories and practice their yodel and polka skills, as festivities will swing into action between 4pm and 10.30pm, with special guest performances each evening by the famous Edelweiss Oompah Brass Band, while there will also be party games and DJs.
“Oktoberfest Beag is an exciting experience and clearly appeals to a wide audience. This will be our first year in Galway and we are happy to see some interest already from the corporate sector as well as sports and social groups,” said festival organiser, Phil Ryan.
“Oktoberfest Beag is a unique event and provides a chance for not only German visitors to enjoy a feeling of home, but tourists and locals to enjoy an alternative cultural and social event in the heart of diverse and wonderful cities full of heritage.
“In addition this year, we have invested heavily in large screens in which to screen the Rugby World Cup, which will certainly add to the excitement,” he said. As well as Galway, the Oktoberfest Beag will be held in Cork, Limerick and Waterford.