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DEL.ICIO.USTap into your inner German at Helen’s Oktoberfest
Where do you go for Oktoberfest?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Mention Oktoberfest, and most Georgians will tell you Helen, Ga. is THE place to head for oom-pah bands, the best of the wursts and of course, mass quantities of German beer (oder “bier” wenn Sie Deutsch sprechen.)
This week, Helen jump-starts its Oktoberfest celebrations, which run Thursdays through Sundays until September 28 and then daily through November 2. The little Alpine-themed village will host an Oktoberfest parade this Saturday at noon, before beckoning visitors to settle down for ein mass dunkles or helles (dark or pale beer) in the Festhalle and biergarten.
When I was a teenager, my German class would make the annual trek to Helen in lieu of the more expensive journey to Deutschland. Even without the beer, the Helen trip was fun for the handful of us who didn’t study French or Spanish in my school - campy, but fun. It’s not a real Bavarian town and singing “Ein prosit” in Helen doesn’t compare to singing it in Munich’s Theresienwiese. BUT… it’s a heckuva lot cheaper, and at two months long, it’s a heckuva party.
While Helen may host the biggest Oktoberfest in the region, it is by no means the only town around with an affinity for German autumnal celebrations. Some are big, some are small. Many focus on their town’s German heritage through music, history and food. And at least one - the fest in Cullman, Ala. — puts a true southern twist on the German tradition - no beer!! Dry county; dry Oktoberfest.
Here are links to a few of the many other Oktoberfests coming up in the southeast over the next few weeks:
*Historic Germantown (Nashville), Tenn.
What makes a good Oktoberfest? Do you travel to Helen for the party, or have you tried festivals elsewhere in the region? Where do you stay when you go? Aside from brat eating, beer drinking and polka dancing, what else do you do when you’re at a festival like this? If you’re a well-traveled Oktoberfest fan, feel free to list your favorite festival sites for us… and tell us how they nudge out their competition. (And if anyone knows…why is the Chicken Dance a must-do at Oktoberfest?!)
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment | Categories: Southeast travel
Comments
By Bronco
September 10, 2008 8:42 AM | Link to this
I live nearby to Helen and if you enjoy people watching, just go grab a bench during Oktoberfest and enjoy. Tacky but cheap.
By JJ
September 10, 2008 9:29 AM | Link to this
Bronco, I agree. People watching at it’s finest……
I love me some Ocktoberfest!!!!! Calling my girls right now making plans to go to Helen……
By no thanks
September 10, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
Helen was disappointing. If you want Oktoberfest for Rednecks, go there. Otherwise, avoid it.
If you can afford it, go to Boston. I went to Oktoberfest at the Harpoon brewery a couple of years back, and it was great.
By Roy Manry
September 10, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Oktoberfest in helen years back was really fun, we’d see people we knew from Atlanta all over. Plus back then, in the festhalle,could sit right on the hooch and enjoy your beer. Last time we went (2 years ago) it just wasn’t the same, fun, but not the same.
By Michael G.
September 10, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
Helen’s German food is about as German as Corned Beef & Cabbage,(which ain’t Irish either) — I lived in Bavaria for 3 years and then around Frankfurt for another 3 years in the military, the 60’s and 70’s had some outstanding groceries over there back then. — But, if you’ve never been to Helen; it’s an experience worth having, once.
By Theresa
September 10, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Keith — I don’t have time to read now but I am excited to explore all the links you listed later tonight —- Thanks for all the great resources!
By Carol Weaver
September 11, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
Great article! I have visited Helen and Cullman. Another fun German event coming up is the German Sausage Festival in Elberta Alabama, near Gulf Shores. It is Oct 25 and the website is www.elbertafire.com