Oktoberfest gets festive early on

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- They were as lively as a brisk fall wind as they happily wound their way around the hotel doing the Snake Dance with princesses and Narren in tow, fueled by the beer, the brats and the oompa-oompa of the band.

You could find some of them leaning over the railing overlooking the main stage, casually sipping Schell's and talking. Or sitting around the table just outside the sliding doors for their rooms, munching on everything from the standard German fare to junk food.

The crowd could also be found perusing the stands that local merchants set up along the hallways just inside the main entrance.

To a newcomer, it might seem a little exotic.

But to most, Oktoberfest is....well, simply a time to come to New Ulm and do the things mentioned above.

Shirley Jo and Paul Meidl stood behind the stand for their downtown business, the Guten Tag Haus, which specializes in all sorts of things imported mostly from Germany.

"We don't see as many kids here as we do at Heritagefest and that's because of Kinderfest," Shirley explained. "This is more of a mature crowd."

Mary Lambrecht, 17, is the newest Miss New Ulm and was on hand with her two princesses in their first official function as royalty. She said they appear at Oktoberfest for about seven hours per weekend.

"Last weekend was out first official duty," she said as the German band Die Schwarzwaelder started to tune up. "This weekend is going a little bit smoother. Our job basically is to get the crowd involved."

Surprisingly, the crowd this weekend is mostly from other parts of the region and the state. Lambrecht said she's found people at this year's fest from California, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Iowa and the Twin Cities. Lambrecht said the crowds this year have included some younger groups, but are generally older.

"It's going well. It's starting to get festive early" said Trevor Malecha, general manager of food and beverage at the Holiday Inn, where Oktoberfest is usually held.

He estimated festgoers drank 250 gallons of tap beer and 1,200 bottles of beer last weekend. Malecha said Oktoberfest is the hotel's largest event of the year.

Chris Bleick is an Oktoberfest veteran; he's been coming down from Fairfax since the celebration started. And in all those years, he said, the fest hasn't changed.

"Good bands and a good bunch of people," he said, resplendent in lederhosen and a green felt hat with lots of pins on it. "That's what brings you back."

Layton Peters has seen practically every Oktoberfest since 1968. As a member of the Concord Singers, he knows the words to the songs a little better and doesn't seem to mind singing them year in, year out.

"There are Oktoberfests here and Oktoberfests there, but we think we've got the best one," Peters said.

Peters said he thinks New Ulm's version of the annual fall celebration is best because of the heritage of the community. Like a certain number of Oktoberfestgoers, Peters admits he's an auslander -- an outsider -- but said he's come to love the town.

"It's still the same kind of gemütlichkeit," Peters said, using the German word for hospitality. "I think people come for that reason."

Oktoberfest continues today with performances from 2 p.m. to 1 a.m. in the German Rivers Room by the Bruce Bradley Band, the Good Time Dutchmen, and the Wendinger Brothers Band. At poolside, The Valley Boys, Die Schwarzwaelder, and the Concord Singers will perform starting at noon.

Downtown events will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with Johnny Helget and the Marv Nissal Band performing. A craft fair will be held in the Marktplatz Mall.