It might be shorter than its German counterpart, and there’s no bier, but Big Walnut High School German language students celebrate Oktoberfest with the same level of enthusiasm as residents of München.
Oktoberfest is a festival held each year in Munich during late September and early October. It’s one of the most famous events in the city and the world’s largest fair, with some six million people attending every year.
“Our in-class Oktoberfest is one of the activities sponsored by our high school’s German Club,” said Big Walnut High School German language teacher Georgia Craig. “Students bring German desserts and German Club provides brats and everything else.”
As a special treat, students in German language classes vote on a movie they would like to watch, in German of course. Craig said popular choices this year were “Koenig der Loewen” (Lion King) and “Das Imperium Schlaegt Zurueck” (The Empire Strikes Back).
“The high school’s second-floor hallways are decorated with student created projects, and traditional German clothing worn by some of the students, Dirndls for girls and Lederhosen for boys, are items I’ve collected over the years of travel,” Craig said. “We always invite the staff and faculty of the high school to drop by for a brat, sauerkraut and some dessert. We probably had about 20 faculty and staff members drop by this year.”
The first Oktoberfest took place in Munich on Oct. 12, 1810. The festival traditionally takes place during the 16 days leading up to and including the first week in October. In 1990, the schedule was modified in response to German reunification so that if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or 2nd, then the festival will go on until Oct. 3, German Unity Day.
