Skip to content

Prosit! Share a pint at Oktoberfest

Five million people, seven million litres of beer and mountains of pork knuckles and sausages are part of the annual Oktoberfest held in Munich for 17 days from late September to the first weekend in October.
47958sookeoktoberfest
Bring out your best dirndl

Five million people, seven million litres of beer and mountains of pork knuckles and sausages are part of the annual Oktoberfest held in Munich for 17 days from late September to the first weekend in October.

It is classed as the largest festival in the world and many cities and towns in North America hold their own Oktoberfest. Sooke is no exception, except their festival is for one night only and it is the eighth annual Oktoberfest.

On Oct. 15, you won’t be eating any schweinshaxe or reiberdatschi but you may be partaking of sausages and beer.

The evening at the Legion, 6726 Eustace Road, will begin with cocktails at 5:45 p.m. and proceed to a dinner of bratwurst, sauerkraut, kartoffel salat and rotkohl at 6:30 ending with Black Forest cake and apple strudel for dessert.

There will be accordian players and the singing of German songs, all geared to get people into the Oktoberfest mood. Mary Ross will squeeze out the tunes on the accordian and Janet McTavish will take a break from her English songs to sing some in German.

Tony Brouwers will do a bit of yodelling and Paul McTavish will take on the role of emcee.

People are likely to turn up on sennerhut, lederhosen and dirndl but getting dressed in German clothes is not a necessity, it’s for fun and to get into the mood, and it is strongly encouraged.

The proceeds from the evening will go to the Sooke District Lioness Club Santa Sacks program.

Tickets are available at Shoppers and Peoples Drug Mart, Jo’s Hair Design and at the Legion.

No one will want to become a “bierleichen” a German word meaning beer corpses, but if one does it is best to arrange a ride home. Have fun but do not drink and drive.

So get ready to shout “O” zapft is! when you tuck into your first beer. It is the traditional cry after the first keg is tapped in Munich.