Thursday, Oct. 16-Sunday, Oct. 19
Every year, the arrival of October brings to mind festivities, great beer and entertainment that’s all-things-Bavarian.
Tulsa’s Oktoberfest began in 1979, and the festival continues to offer activities for all ages, including a children’s tent, the Dachshund Dash, authentic German music, a 5k run and much more.
This year, the 2014 Linde Oktoberfest Tulsa takes place Oct. 16-19 at River West Festival Park, 2100 S. Jackson Ave. For the next five years, Linde Process Plants will be the title sponsor for the festival.
Tonja Carrigg, Oktoberfest festival director, says the festival is popular because it is truly a community event and effort.
“The entire community gets involved in every aspect of it, with more than 1,000 volunteers,” Carrigg says.
The four-day festival promotes German culture as it benefits Tulsa River Parks. This year, it is expected to attract some 60,000 visitors. In the past, Oktoberfest in Tulsa has been named one of the top 10 fall festivals of its kind in the nation by USA Today.
Festival highlights include six tents with 244 taps serving more than 50 kinds of beers, both imported and domestic; a beer barrel race; and a stein hoisting competition. Also this year, there will be more German entertainers than ever before. Besides the bands, there will be a European disco complete with a German DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
In addition to all the fun, guests will find a variety of authentic German foods served by the German American Society in Tulsa, including brats on buns, kraut, potato pancakes and more. Other area restaurants and vendors serving wiener schnitzel, sausages, strudel and other German delicacies will also be on hand.
“We want to encourage people to wear German-themed clothes, including lederhosen for the guys and dirndl for the frauleins,” Carrigg says.
Oktoberfest hours are 5-11:30 p.m. on Oct. 16, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Oct. 17-18 and noon-6 p.m. on Oct. 19.
Admission is $6 for adults throughout the festival except from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 17, which is free to all. Children 12 and under are free. Visit www.tulsaoktoberfest.org for a complete schedule of events and list of participating vendors.
