Once upon a time, Oktoberfest was a traditional celebration in Munich to commemorate a royal wedding. Then it was a great chance to hold a horse race. Now, it’s a great chance for people from across the globe to drink German bier and eat traditional German-inspired hot dogs and giant pretzels.
Sounds great, right?
But, how can your venue make the most of this festival that takes over the world from Saturday, 16 September until Tuesday, 3 October?
Create an Authentic Oktoberfest Menu
No Oktoberfest celebration is complete without the mouth-watering Bavarian cuisine that festival-goers across the world have come to expect, and love!
Anyone who has been to the actual Oktoberfest in Munich would remember pretzels being sold in huge baskets by Brotfrauen, so why not replicate this at your venue during Oktoberfest? Soft pretzels are one of Bavaria’s many famous culinary delights and can be paired with tangy German mustard, and of course, a pint of beer!
Germany’s famous currywurst is another staple at any Oktoberfest celebration. While this spicy snack originated in Berlin, it has become a popular offering at Munich’s original Oktoberfest. Not sure what a currywurst is? Essentially, it’s a grilled bratwurst-style sausage that has been cut into pieces and coated with curry ketchup and curry powder and served with a German Brötchen (bread roll).
When creating your Oktoberfest menu, you’ll have a lot of food options to choose from, but make sure it includes crowd favourites, like hot and crusty frankfurter rolls, sauerkraut and salami pizza and a selection of German cheese, cookies and candies.
Order in Traditional German Biers
It’s no secret that Germans love a good beer (or bier), so it’s not surprising that they now have more than 5,000 different types that are brewed in almost 1,500 different breweries.
In Munich alone, approximately 7.5 million litres of beer is consumed each year at Oktoberfest, with much more being downed around the world.
The six main Oktoberfest breweries, include:
• Augustiner-Bräu
• Hacker-Pschorr-Bräu
• Hofbräu
• Löwenbräu
• Paulaner
• Spaten
If you want your establishment’s Oktoberfest to be a real hit with the crowds, getting some of this beer on tap, or shipping in enough bottles to go around is an absolute must!
Hire Some German-Inspired Entertainment and Decorations
The official colours of Bavaria are cobalt blue and white, so try to coordinate your venue accordingly. From napkins and streamers to tablecloths and plastic plates and cutlery, traditional Oktoberfest colours will help ensure your event has an authentic vibe.
Long tables and benches are the way to go (if possible) and an Oompah band or accordion player will ensure your guests are kept entertained. An inexpensive alternative is to play CDs of traditional German band music.
Hold Dress-Up Nights and a Best Dressed Competition
Men wearing Lederhosen and women wearing Dirndl dresses (more commonly known as beer wench costumes) will add to the authenticity and fun of your event. Run a best-dressed competition, which can be hosted daily or over the course of the two weeks. It will encourage people to get involved and will enhance the atmosphere of your venue. If you’re going to do this though, make sure you get your staff involved as well!
As you can see, holding an Oktoberfest event is easier than you might have thought and will be a whole lot of fun!
To ensure your POS system can keep up with the crowds you’re bound to draw in, contact Vectron today!