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Forget Munich. The world’s best Oktoberfest gets thrown in Choctaw, Oklahoma. The party kicks off on September 4 at 5:30 p.m. when Mayor Randy Ross taps the ceremonial keg, officially opening the city’s annual Oktoberfest. The nine-day party is widely recognized as one of the most authentic Oktoberfest celebrations in the nation.
“I love it. I’m one of the few mayors in the state that’s expected to tap a keg and drink beer every September. That’s a pretty good deal for a politician. We’re proud of our Oktoberfest and bringing in visitors not just from multiple states, but from other countries. It gives us a chance to shine,” says Choctaw Mayor, Randy Ross.
The festival, the brainchild of Mike Turek, owner of Choctaw’s Old Germany Restaurant, celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Over the years, he’s seen attendance grow from 1,500 people to 50,000 visitors from around the world. This year’s festival will boast 30,000 square feet of tents with everything, anything and all things German.
Turek strives for authenticity and gets his inspiration straight from the source: the original Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany.
“What I try to base everything on is the very first and original Oktoberfest in Munich. I ask myself what can I do to recreate a little bit of Munich right here in Choctaw, Oklahoma? I want to create that feeling of, wow, I’m in Munich. I want visitors thinking, if I close my eyes, I could be in Munich,” says Turek.
Musical entertainment includes two of the nation’s premier German bands, the Walding Boys and AlpenMusikanten, a staple at Choctaw’s Oktoberfest for over twenty years. Their sets aren’t limited to waltzes and polkas, either. They play anything and everything alpine, from swing music to pop and rock.
“It’s not all polkas and waltzes,” says AlpenMusikanten’s band leader, Alan Walling. “There’s a good bit of that, but there’s also some of the newer Austrian songs such as ballads and Alpine rock. We mix it up. It’s always been a blast to play in Choctaw. The crowds are awesome and they’re into it. They’re always ready to have a good time.”
The celebration features two stages. The main pavilion features authentic German music from open to close. And Turek, always on the hunt for the real thing, is very particular about the bands—though he notes they’ve been known to throw in the occasional Pink Floyd version of “The Sound of Music.”
The second stage features more mainstream music. Bands offer everything from classic rock to country music. Turek wants everybody to have a good time at Oktoberfest, even if they’re not into polkas and waltzes.
Turek’s quest for authenticity doesn’t stop with the music. The Old Germany Restaurant serves up the essential staples of German cuisine: pretzels, schweinshaxen, schnitzel sandwiches, grilled chicken, rippchen, apple strudel, red cabbage potato salad, sauerkraut, and all the bratwurst you can imagine. It is, he says, the best German fare you’ll find this side of Munich.
And of course, no Oktoberfest is complete without beer. Turek offers over 40 draft beers, 38 imported from Germany. And he represents Oklahoma with draft Mustang. He deliberately avoids beer sponsorships so he can offer the widest possible selection.
“That is more variety than you will find at the Munich Oktoberfest,” he says. “You will not find that many German beers at any other festival in this country.”
Kids, says Turek, are a big deal at Oktoberfest and he goes out of his way to make it as fun for them as it is for their parents. A bouncy village sits right next to an outdoor beer garden where parents can sit, relax, chat and enjoy their beer while watching their kids play. Face painting and a petting zoo add to the fun.
The second Saturday features a car show where Oklahoman Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi clubs display vintage German cars. Look for one-of-a-kind custom vehicles, as well.
“For the amount of work that goes into this, I promise you, it’s not a cash cow. If we break even at the end we’ve done well. My family and I look at it this way: if we can bring a little bit of German culture to a state like Oklahoma, where one in six people are of some German heritage, then we achieve our mission,” says Turek.
Choctaw’s Oktoberfest is held at Choctaw Creek Park on Harper Rd. between NE 23rd Street and NE 10th Street. Admission is $5 for adults, with free admission for kids. Parking is free. For more information, visit oldgermany.com.
BY Paul Fairchild
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