CULLMAN, Ala. – The Burgermeister is a tradition at Cullman Oktoberfest dating back to the beginning of the festival. The Burgermeister is nominated each year by the community and voted on by the Oktoberfest committee. Each year, the selected Burgermeister is honored and acts as the host of the festival. Oktoberfest is one the biggest annual festivals in Cullman featuring live music, historic walking tours, pumpkin patches, wiener dog races, 5K and 10K runs, the Miss Oktoberfest pageant and more.
The Burgermeister’s duties include tapping the keg at the opening ceremony, emceeing the event and presenting awards; however, the job as Burgermeister starts weeks before the actual event. He or she visits kids in schools while in costume, and encourages everyone on social media to come out to the event and learn about the towns’ heritage.
But for the right Burgermeister, it’s not a job at all. The nominee should be someone who is happy to greet strangers like they are friends, be willing to go the extra mile in connecting to the town’s German heritage and just have a good time while wearing the famed lederhosen and green Bavarian hat. They will need to be prepared each night of Oktoberfest to mingle and socialize with crowd, help with contests and get the crowd going.
Each Burgermeister brings their own flair and special history to the task. They each have previously worked to make Cullman a better place to live. Kelly Pulliam of Cullman Parks and Recreation shared, “The Burgermeister should be involved in the community and civic minded. No connection to Cullman’s heritage is needed, just a love for our community.”
Nominate your favorite contender by June 25 on the Cullman Oktoberfest Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/cullmanoktoberfest). Oktoberfest 2022 will take place September 29 – October 1, 2022.
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