Oktoberfest San Diego 2007 – My Leather Pants are Chafing!

Oktoberfest in San Diego isn't just an excuse to drink beer and eat bratwurst.

In Germany, Oktoberfest is an annual two-week festival commemorating the marriage of King Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen back in 1810. Each year, over six and a half million people flock to Munich in the heart of Barvaria, at the end of September crossing over into the beginning of October (if you can make it that long). It's the largest people's fair in the world.

Due to the proud German tradition of brewing and the popularity of the 14 brewery-sponsored tents at the festival, the event itself has become synonymous with brewing, beer appreciation, and beer consumption, featuring huge steins of frothy goodness - and revelry that goes all day and well into the night.

In America, it's St. Patty's Day for Germans.

Where to Celebrate Oktoberfest in San Diego:

La Mesa Oktoberfest, October 6th-8th
With over 200,000 celebrants and going on its 34th year, the La Mesa Oktoberfest is considered the "Grand Daddy" of all San Diego Oktoberfests and claims the title for largest 3-day Oktoberfest West of the Mississippi. This family friendly event is more like a giant block party in the village. The most prominent feature is the 400+ craft booths. The event also boasts fair food, carnival rides, dancers and live music, but keep in mind -they only have two beer gardens for all those people. Taking the trolley is highly recommended.

El Cajon Oktoberfest, September 28th-30th and October 5th-7th
Presented by the German American Societies of San Diego, the 33rd annual Oktoberfest in El Cajon is going strong for two weekends long. These guys have shipped in oom-pah band "Guggenbach-Buam" direct from the motherland for authentic entertainment, and will be raffling a roundtrip flight for two back to the old country. This may be your best bet to find people who actually speak German.

Carlsbad Oktoberfest, Oct. 6th
The Carlsbad Rotary Club is hosting this family-friendly event in Holiday Park emphasizing children's activities and the beloved "Chicken Dance" led by a live polka band. Traditional German food, music, dancing and face painting will also be available.

Julian Oktoberfest, October 6th and 7th
As part of Julian's Apple Days Celebration, the city of Julian will be greeting the harvest season with an Oktoberfest of its own. Expect bratwurst, beer, and traditional music with German and Austrian dancing the city attempts to bring a taste of Europe to downtown Julian. (As if you needed another reason to visit Julian)

Ocean Beach Oktoberfest, October 13th
It might as well be called Rock-Toberfest! After a short hiatus when the event was moved to Del Mar, Oktoberfest returns to Ocean Beach, smaller but with the same raucous spirit. This is where to go if you want to get your drink on.

The day starts off at 9am with the newest tradition the Brat Trot lead by the San Diego Hash House Harries (A Drinking Club with a Running Problem). Rounding out the entertainment are Stein Holding and Bratwurst eating competitions, live music and a sausage toss. The prize? A car! Heavy on the music with two stages, the event features the obligatory Bavarian Beer Garden Band as well as local favorites such as Lady Dottie & The Diamonds, and Elijah Emanuel & the Revelations.

In an effort to control the shenanigans, this beer-fest closes down around 8pm, but the crowd will surely just move the party into the many watering holes lining Ocean Beach's Newport Ave.

In Summary:

Just as everyone is Irish on St. Patty's Day, everyone drinking beer is German during Oktoberfest. However, many partiers overestimate their tolerance and become exceedingly drunk. The Germans have a name for this: Beirleichen, literally meaning "beer corpses". They have a medical tent for them in Munich. In San Diego, you need to know your limit.

Here are a few other German phrases that might come in handy:

Hello!/Good day!
Guten Tag! (GOO-ten tahk)

Good-bye!
Auf Wiedersehen! (owf VEE-der-zane)

Where's the restroom/toilet?
Wo ist die Toilette? (vo ist dee toy-LET-uh)

Excuse me miss, one beer please.
Entschuldigen Sie mich Verlust, ein Bier bitte.

Where is the Bratwurst Tent?
Wo ist die Bratwurst Zelt?

That's the largest pretzel I have ever seen!
Die ist die größte Brezel, die ich überhaupt gesehen habe!

I would like to enter the stein holding or sausage eating event.
Ich möchte den stein Holding - oder Wurstessenfall eintragen.

My leather pants are chaffing.
Meine ledernen Hosen necken.

Please do not snap my suspenders.
Bitte reißen Sie nicht meine Hosenträger.

I am drunk, call me a taxi.