Dustin White
Editor

Marking the changing seasons, Dykshoorn Park will be transformed into an autumn wonderland. Celebrating the areas German Heritage, Oktoberfest Un Mandan will kick off on Saturday.

With many of the area’s residents having at least a bit of German background, the event has proved to be a success over the last couple of years.

Catering to the entire family, with the intention of celebrating German heritage, the day kicks off at 11 a.m., with activities geared to children. Beginning with a fall craft tent, farmers market as well as music, the Mandan Progress Organization has wanted to promote a friendly environment.



For those wanting to indulge in some authentic German cuisine, food booths will also be on location to serve a variety of delicacies, including fleishkuechle, knoephla soup, kuchen, blachinda, kase knoephla and brats and German burgers.

However, the feature event of the day doesn’t begin until 4 p.m., when a ceremonial tapping of the keg opens up the beer tasting in the brau haus, or beer tent, which lasts until 7 p.m.

Showcasing as this year’s official beer, Laughing Sun’s Rusty Tracks Autumn Brown Ale will be standing center stage.

Happy hour games will also be available for participants 21 and older.

Oktoberfest history

The first Oktoberfest was held over 200 years ago, on Oct. 12, 1810. It began as a celebration of marriage between the then Crown Ludwig, later King Ludwig I, and Princes Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.

Citizens were invited to attend festivities that were held in the fields in front of the city gates.


Marking the end of the event was a horse race, which as presented in front of the Royal Family. It was the decision to repeat the horse races during the subsequent years that gave birth to Oktoberfest.

The next year, an agricultural show was added to the horse races. The intention was to boost Bavarian agriculture.

However, amusement was sparse during the first few years. But visitors were able to quench their thirsts through one of the few small beer stands that were present. Over the next couple of year, these beer stands would grow rapidly in number, and by 1896, the stands were replaced with beer tents and halls.

Over the years additional events were quickly added. Along with the growth though, Oktoberfest also saw a number of drawbacks.

In 1854, the event had to be cancelled after 3,000 residents of Munich died from a cholera epidemic. During the years that followed, Oktoberfest would have to be called off on a number of other occasions, as well, including the Austro-Prussion War, France-Prussion War, and both World War I and World War II.



As the festival entered into the modern times, additional changes were made. Horse races ended in 1960, but at the same time, Oktoberfest had also become a world-famous event.

Saturday

Oktober Fest Un Mandan will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., at Dkyshoorn Park on West Main Street.

Admission is $5, with those 12 and under free of charge. Beer tasting tickets are $25, which includes the admission fee.

For additional details about Oktober Fest, go to www.mandanprogress.org.