It all started in 1810 when the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig has decided to invite the citizens of Munich to his wedding. The festivities were held on the fields in front of the city gates and the main event originally was a horse race.
After this, yearly anniversary celebrations were held which eventually became larger and more elaborate. They started adding more and more attractions, like a carousel and swings, but also held tree climbing competitions, wheelbarrow and sack races, barrel rolling races and goose chases. Finally, in 1908, Germany’s first roller coaster was added to the festivities. Alongside this, the city slowly began allowing beer on the grounds and beer stands have started spurting up, sponsored by the local breweries just as the beer tents are in our days.
What do you need to create your very own Oktoberfest?
1. The perfect setting – Grafschaft Bentheim
Located in Uelsen, Germany, this holiday park offers visitor everything they might need for the perfect family vacation or the ideal holiday between friends. With its rolling hills, woods and rivers, it truly is the ideal place to relax and have fun, and why not – create your very own Oktoberfest with the people in your life. The spirit of this festival can be recreated anywhere by focusing on having fun and tasting great beers!
2. A collection of your family and friends
One of the most important elements of planning such an outing, is to make sure all of your friends and family have enough space and a high level of comfort. Grafschaft Bentheim offers bungalows of many sizes, from smaller ones (3-4 persons) to larger buildings, built to accommodate 6-12 people. The houses are all detached, with cozy living rooms, comfortable sitting and dining areas and a terrace, ideal for chatting, enjoying the fresh air and taking your mini-Oktoberfest outside, because naturally beer tastes the best outdoors!
3. Beers, beers, beers – Germany in a bottle
A beer festival wouldn’t be complete without…well, beer! Germany is famous for its liquid gold, and wherever your trips and vacations may take you, you will always have ample chance to try out the best of these. Right now, here are 5 beers which make the Germans proud, but you don’t have to stick to these when planning a German beer tasting event, these are simply tasty recommendations:
- Weihenstephan Hefe Weissbier
Hefeweizen is a cloudy, wheat brew with a light, yeasty sweetness which makes it extremely refreshing. Weihenstephan is one of the oldest breweries in the world and has been producing phenomenal brews since 1040.
- Erdinger Kristall
- Spaten Oktoberfest
- Paulaner Salvator Doppel Bock
- Radeberger Pils
4. Wurst, wurst, wurst
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Blutwurst
This type of sausage is created out of diced, cooked pork fat and blood. They come in many varieties served both hot and cold.
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Bratwurst
The farmer’s sausage, these are usually created out of pork but may sometimes contain veal and may come in both smoked and fresh varieties.
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Frankfurter
Originating from Frankfurt, this smoky, mildly seasoned sausage is usually made with pork in sheep casing.
Most of these sausages can be prepared in a variety of different ways, boiled, broiled, grilled or even deep-fried, so they are truly ideal for a quick vacation dinner in a holiday park.
5. Get some Lederhosen and Dirndl
Traditional costumes (Lederhosen and Dirndl) became an elemental part of folk festivals and Oktoberfest. Naturally, to complete the fantasy of your very own beer festival, it would be a fun undertaking to get dressed and get into that spirit. Obviously, it is always best to buy such clothing from traditional dress makers, but if that’s not possible or not in your budget, major clothing brands and marketplaces usually have a collection of this sort (H&M, Amazon etc.).
All in all, these types of activities are a great way to spice up friend groups, have fun with your family and create memorable moments, adding something extra to your stay at a holiday park, at the same time taking advantage of the freedom and comfort this type of accommodation can offer you!
