Oktoberfest opens to good-sized crowd

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- It's as cyclical as the seasons in New Ulm.

In summer, it's Heritagefest.

In winter, it's Fasching.

But in fall, it's Oktoberfest, and like any other New Ulm German-heritage event, the Holiday Inn was packed with festgoers decked in lederhosen and carrying generous steins of beer. The pool area and the German Rivers Room flooded the halls of the hotel with polkas and marches and chants and sing-a-longs. In the halls, local merchants stood behind their tables peddling German goods and souvenirs of New Ulm and Oktoberfest.

"It's been a slow start, but it generally builds on Friday," said Holiday Inn general manager Rick Neumann.

Early on in the evening, the Concord Singers got the crowd involved in the snake dance and the chicken dance with the help of New Ulm Princess Shelly Steuber and those wooden-faced rascals called the Narren. A favorite among the crowd seemed to be "The Lichtensteiner Polka" because it had young and old people on the dance floor moving to the music.

"I think for a Friday night, it's a good crowd," said Concord Singers member Steve Wilke. "Saturday's always a bigger crowd, but for a Friday, it's excellent."

Neumann said the crowd met his expectations for size although he said he couldn't give exact numbers. The Holiday Inn, he said, is booked solid. Many of the hotel's guests are return visitors. Once Oktoberfest is over, many of this year's guests have the opportunty to reserve a room for next year, even before reservations are open to regular customers. Some of them, like the Farkel family from Crystal Lake, have returned to Oktoberfest for over a decade.

"We've come here since 1983," said Sharon Siegle as she sat at table outside a poolside hotel room. "We have a really good time down here."

Souvenir vendor Pat Sparlin said she sees several guests from last year's celebration staying in the same hotel; some of them even in the same rooms.

"For Friday, it does seem like a large crowd for this early," she said.

As is the tradition at events like Oktoberfest, the Concord Singers performed for a hour before German band Original Lausitzer Blasmusikanten took the stage. The band played for an hour and took a break for the keg opening, and then returned for another hour set.

Not too far away, in the German Rivers Room, was Alpenrose, a perennial Oktoberfest fave from Watertown. Alpenrose kept the crowd busy with its own brand of traditional German dance music.

"I think for a Friday night, it's a good crowd," said Concord Singer Steve Wilke. "Saturday's always a big crowd, but for Friday it's excellent."

The 20th Annual Oktoberfest continues today. Events will happen all around New Ulm throughout the day. Here's what's on tap, so to speak:

* The Holiday Inn -- 2101 South Broadway -- The Elk River German Band, Jolly Ramblers and Leon Olsen Band will play in the German Rivers Room, starting at 2 p.m. and ending at 1 a.m. The Valley Boys, Original Lausitzer Blasmusikanten and the Concord Singers will play poolside, starting at noon and ending at 12 a.m. Admission: $7

* Downtown New Ulm -- Along Minnesota Street between 4th North and 5th South Streets -- The Johnny Helget Band will play from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. The Marv Nissal Band will follow, playing from 2-5 p.m. Trolley rides are from noon to 4 p.m. about every 20 minutes and will cost $2-3.

* Brown County Museum -- 2 N. Broadway -- Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday only. Admission free.

* Marktplatz Mall -- 101 N. German St. -- Craft show from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* The Harkin Store -- Rural Route 3 and Nicollet County Road 21 -- Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* The Hermann Monument -- Center Street and Monument -- Climb to top for $1 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weather permitting.

* The John Lind House -- Corner of Center and State Streets -- Open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

* Minnesota Music Hall of Fame -- 27 N. Broadway -- Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

* Morgan Creek Vineyard -- Between New Ulm and Mankato off Highway 68 and Junction 47, two miles to Brown County Road 101 south -- Competitive Grape Stomp at 1 and 3 p.m., Morris Dancers will perform, ribs for sale. Saturday, Oct. 6 only.

* Schell's Brewery Tours -- 1860 Schell Rd. -- Brewery tours from noon every half-hour until 5 p.m.

* Wanda Gag House -- 226 N. Washington St. -- Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

* Volksmarch -- Vogel Arena -- 125 S. Garden St. -- Register at arena between 9 a.m. and noon. 10 K Walk starts at noon, rain or shine, and will go from Vogel through downtown New Ulm and German Park. Oct. 6 only.