Miss Oktoberfest 2018, Emma Pierce of St. Bernard Prep School (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN – On Wednesday evening, Cullman took a few minutes to focus its attention on the Festhalle, as the city officially opened its Oktoberfest celebration with the tapping of the kegs and other activities.
The Hanceville High School German Band, under the direction of Jesse James, provided live music before the beginning of the ceremony. Col. Johann Cullmann opened the festivities by offering a remembrance of Jim Swofford, one of the founding members of Cullman Oktoberfest, by having a hat resembling Swofford’s signature festival headgear placed on a perch overlooking the activities in the festival tent. Swofford, 98, passed away Sept. 29.
Outgoing 2017 Burgermeister John Dean turned over the reins to airport manager Ben Harrison, telling him, “It’s going to be a real fun time for you and your wife. You’ll be busier than you’ll ever be, but you’ll enjoy it in memories forever.”
During the installation, the two Burgermeisters shared in a “new tradition” for Cullman’s Oktoberfest: a Burgermeister prost using Frios Gourmet Pops special edition Dunkel Pops, frozen non-alcoholic treats based on the festival’s official beer, Goat Island Duck River Dunkel.
Col. Cullmann Distinguished Service Award
Col. Cullmann presented the 2018 Col. Johann Gottfried Cullmann Distinguished Service Award to Good Life Magazine editor/publisher David Moore “in recognition and thankfulness for his faithful service to community.”
Miss Oktoberfest named
Col. Cullmann, assisted by Alexis Nearin, Freddy Gaudet and 2017 Miss Oktoberfest Ally Knight, introduced the contestants for the Miss Oktoberfest contest, representing area high schools:
Cold Springs – Sidney Newton
Cullman – Alyssa Sandlin
Fairview – Bailey Shedd
Good Hope – Bailey Swann
Hanceville – Logan Yates
Holly Pond – Leah Tarvin
St. Bernard – Emma Pierce
Vinemont – Alexis Boner
West Point – Anna Norris
Using the time-honored tradition of the random chocolate-stuffed cupcake, St. Bernard’s Emma Pierce was selected as 2018 Miss Oktoberfest.
Knight told Pierce, “Get ready to dance! I didn’t know what to expect when I got here, but that’s what I did probably about 80 percent of the time, and I loved every second of it. So my advice is just throw yourself in anything they ask of you, and have fun.”
The keg is tapped!
As has been the tradition for a few years now, the opening ceremony concluded with dual keg tappings: of the root beer keg inside the Festhalle, and of the Duck River Dunkel keg at the Goat Island truck in the Biergarten.
Oktoberfest activities continue through midnight Saturday. For more information, visit www.cullmanoktoberfest.com/2018-schedule.html.
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