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Brats and beer and music, oh my!
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MINSTER - There will be no pizza at the Minster Oktoberfest. No funnel cakes or french fries, either. The 34th annual event celebrates German heritage today through Sunday in downtown Minster and if it's not German, it won't be there.
"It's going to be German, it's going to be beer and it's going to be food," said Jim Coons, executive director of the Southwestern Auglaize County Chamber of Commerce. "A lot of beer, a lot of food and a lot of German music."
There is a strong German heritage in the Minster area, with German immigrants settling in the area about 170 years ago. There are pages of pages of German surnames in local phone books and it was natural for German-themed festivals and activities grew from that heritage, he said.
Oktoberfest is co-sponsored by the Minster Civic Association, the Journeyman's Club and the Minster Kiwanis Club, with strong support from the village of Minster, Coons said. In addition to the food, music and beer, there will be a car show at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, a "Little Miss Oktoberfest" pageant at 10 a.m. Saturday and a parade at 2 p.m. Sunday. The festival's arts and craft area, he said, is one of the finest in the region and is highly regarded.
Six German bands will play throughout the weekend and a half-dozen specialty beers will be served, including the locally-brewed Wooden Shoe beer. And for those who think they can hold their beer, so to speak, can participate in the beer tray relays, where contestants race through an obstacle course hold a tray with full cups of beer. The object, of course, is to make it through without spilling the drinks.
"It almost looks like a football workout session. The later in the afternoon it gets, the more interesting it gets," Coons said.
About 50,000 people are expected to attend the event. Its popularity, Coon said, is due to its consistency. Participants know they will get an authentic German festival, with brats, music and beer.
"If it came from Germany it's going to be done there. It's a constant flow of food and music and people," he said.
WHAT: Minster Oktoberfest
WHEN: Today through Sunday
WHERE: Downtown Minster
COST: Free
FOR MORE INFO: 419-629-0313
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