Burgermeister John Dean and “Col. Cullman,” Larry Rowlette, keep tradition alive with the tapping of the root beer "keg," before moving on the to the real deal. / W.C. Mann
CULLMAN – On Wednesday evening, the city of Cullman officially kicked off Oktoberfest 2017. Burgermeister John Dean cut the ribbon, then headed for the kegs. In a nod to Cullman’s dry Oktoberfest history, Dean and Col. Cullman (Larry Rowlette) first tapped the root beer keg. Then, reaching way back in Cullman’s history, the pair went to the other end of the Festhalle to fill their steins with Richter’s Pils from Dean’s own Goat Island Brewing.
Richter’s, brewed by Goat Island right here in Cullman, is based on an original handwritten recipe by William Frederick Richter, proprietor of Richter’s Saloon in the late 1800s.
The new Burgermeister said of his selection to the position, “It’s an honor. There’s a lot of dignitaries; I’m looking at Ernest Hauk, John Richter, preachers, teachers, mayors, the president of Wallace State. It’s a very, very big honor.”
Good Hope High School senior Ally Knight chose the magic chocolate pudding-filled cupcake to be chosen from among this year’s Cullman County Fair Queen court as Miss Oktoberfest.
Tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 5 will be Senior Day, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by Terry Cavanagh and the Alpine Express. From 11:30 a.m. to noon, a free lunch will be provided for senior citizens, and senior bingo will be held from noon until 2:00 p.m. Beer will also be served.
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