CULLMAN, Ala. – Dust off your lederhosen or dirndl and head out to Depot Park for Cullman’s Oktoberfest celebration, which begins today and runs through Saturday evening.
Highlighting its German heritage, Cullman began celebrating Oktoberfest in 1982, but the history of Oktoberfest dates back to 1810, long before Germans made their way to Alabama.
On Oct. 12, 1810, a great celebration was held for the wedding of Bavaria’s crown prince. That prince would later become King Ludwig (Luis) I. His wedding to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen was celebrated for five days. A celebration has been held each year since in Munich and has become the model for other German-American cities, like Cullman.
“It’s about German heritage. Where you have Germans, you have Oktoberfest,” said Cullman Oktoberfest’s 2020 Burgermeister Steve Sides. “I hope everybody comes out to Oktoberfest to celebrate our German heritage.”
This year’s celebration will be condensed, but packed full of activities, food and entertainment. Considering that just a few months ago, the City of Cullman wasn’t sure if this year’s celebration would be possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Cullman Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism Executive Director Zac Wood and Burgermeister Sides said they are thankful the community will once again be able to come together to celebrate its German roots.
Sides has been donning his lederhosen and making appearances around town all week. After kicking off Goatoberfest at Goat Island Brewing last Saturday, he has been visiting with area schools, churches, businesses and others in the community, sharing stories about the city’s history as well as all the activities planned for Friday and Saturday.
This year, most of the events and the popular biergarten will be at Depot Park. The hope is to create an authentic German Oktoberfest festival for everyone to enjoy. The biergarten will open Friday afternoon at 4 p.m., with the opening ceremonies at 6. The tapping of the keg will follow soon after. Bands will play until 10.
The Miss Oktoberfest Pageant will be a bit smaller this year, as Sides explained, “The problem this year is because of the fair parade- usually they are fair representatives or a lot of them are in band- so they are going to be in the fair parade. Also, Friday night is high school football games so that’s a little different this year. We have three or four entries this year.”
Miss Oktoberfest will be selected during the opening ceremonies.
“It’s going to be like every year,” said Sides, “just shorter and more fun.”
Friday events:
- 4 p.m. Wolfgang Moritz (main stage)
- 4-10 p.m. biergarten and food vendors open; carriage rides and pumpkin patch
- 5-6 p.m. Wolfgang Moritz (gazebo)
- 5-7 p.m. Polkawagen (main stage)
- 6-7 p.m. Opening ceremonies (main stage)
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- Tapping of the keg
- Burgermeister announcement
- Miss Oktoberfest Pageant
- 6:30-7:15 p.m. cornhole registration (Festhalle)
- 7 p.m. walking tour (United Way parking lot)
- 7:30 p.m. The Overtones (main stage)
- 7:30 p.m. cornhole tournament (Festhalle)
- 8:30-9 p.m. stein hoisting/ best costume contests
- 9 p.m.- The Pine Hill Haints (main stage)
Saturday events:
- 7 a.m.-2 p.m. farmer’s market (Festhalle)
- 8 a.m. craft show begins (Cullman County Museum parking lot)
- 9 a.m. sidewalk chalk contest (Cullman City Hall sidewalk)
- 9:30 a.m. Oktofurfest: wiener dog race registration
- 10 a.m. Wallace State Singers & Jazz Band (main stage)
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. carriage rides
- 10 a.m.-10 p.m. biergarten and food vendors open; pumpkin patch
- 10 a.m.-4 p.m. kids’ activities (Kids’ Area)
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- 10-11:30 slime and tissue paper craft
- 10:30 pickle eating contest
- 10:30 paper airplane contest
- noon-1:30 birdhouses and painting craft
- 2-4 tie dye mask and rock painting
- 11 a.m. Wolfgang Moritz (gazebo)
- 11 a.m.-1p.m. Oktofurfest
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- 11-12 wiener dog races
- 12-12:30 costume contest
- 12:30-1 pet parade
- Noon- Brat eating contest
- 12:30-2 p.m. Oompah-Calypse (main stage)
- 1 p.m. cruise in (German cars)
- 2 p.m. cruise in (non-German cars)
- 2:30-6:30 p.m. Polkawagen (main stage)
- 3 p.m. Sacred Heart raffle drawing
- 4-7 p.m. St. Paul’s Lutheran School Cornhole Tournament (Goat Island Brewing)
- 7 p.m. Round 2 (main stage)
- 8:30 p.m. Avenue G Band (main stage)
- 9:30 p.m. raffle giveaway winner
- 9:30-10 p.m. stein hoisting/best costume contests
- 10 p.m. Blind the Sky (main stage)
On Saturday, festivities begin at 7 a.m. with the farmer’s market open at the Festhalle.
Wood said he is hopeful that folks in town for the Cullman County Fair Parade at 2 p.m. will head over to enjoy Oktoberfest.
“I’m going to be driving the VW bus, and Steve and his wife are going to be in it,” he said. “We are going to have signs that say, ‘Follow us to Oktoberfest.’”
For the kids, around the gazebo area at the Cullman County Museum, there will be a pumpkin patch, pumpkin painting and crafts. There is a charge for the pumpkins as a fundraiser for Garrison Gives Hope.
Said Wood, “Everything we raise stays here in the community. The kids can come in and paint the pumpkin at no charge, but the pumpkin costs, but all the proceeds go back to that foundation.”
At least 34 craft vendors and local merchants will be set up in the parking area behind the museum. Arnold Street, around the festival area, will be closed during Oktoberfest allowing activities including kids’ activities, Oktofurfest and other events to utilize the space. Food, snack and drink vendors will also be on-hand, including Hildegard’s German Cuisine, Johnny’s Bar-B-Q, Devil Dawgs, Augusta’s, MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream, and the Cullman High School Shotgun Club will be selling brats as a fundraiser.
Said Wood, “There will be lemonade, funnel cakes and something for everybody.”
The stage and dancefloor area will be located on the north end of Depot Park with beer tents on the east and west sides. The Oktoberfest merchandise tent will be located at the south end of Depot Park. The Cullman County Museum will also be open for visitors.
Masks are recommended, and Wood reminded everyone to be respectful and be aware of social distancing. As an open air event, masks will not be required. The popular Hay People will indeed wear their masks during Oktoberfest. It will serve as a reminder to guests and as a sign of the times when future generations look back on Oktoberfest 2020.
Burgermeister Sides is anticipating a great Oktoberfest.
“We are excited to be having it over at Depot Park. That’s new and I think the biergarten is going to fun here,” he said. “I can’t remember an Oktoberfest when we had weather this good. Everybody is stir-crazy, so I think it’s going to be a great turnout.”
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