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How Utah’s Oktoberfest at Snowbird compares with Germany’s ultimate bash

It may not be October yet, but every weekend thousands of Utahns are heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon for Snowbird’s annual Oktoberfest celebration.

The multi-weekend event draws large crowds hoping to grab some beer, eat good German food and enjoy festive entertainment. But have you ever wondered how Utah’s event compares to the famous German revelry?

A few years ago I got a chance to attend Munich’s Oktoberfest. So now I’m fully prepped to give you the lowdown on how Utah’s fun fete stacks up to the ultimate German celebration.

1. People

Crowds watch a traditional gun salute on the last day of Oktoberfest 2013.

Germany’s Oktoberfest is the world’s largest annual fair. Last year 6.4 million guests attended the festivities. People come in town from all over the world.

Utah’s festival has grown to become one of Utah’s largest community events. Over 50,000 people a year visit Snowbird for Oktoberfest. You can expect to see 3,000 to 7,000 people every Saturday and Sunday enjoying their brews in the serene mountain setting.

 

2. History & Timing

 Riflemen in traditional costume celebrate the history of Oktoberfest, 2013

The first German Oktoberfest was held in October of 1810 to honor the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig’s marriage. Festivities lasted six days and afterward the celebrations were repeated yearly. As time progressed, the festival was lengthened and moved forward to September, allowing for better weather. Now it’s a full two-week event that begins in September and ends in October.

Utah is celebrating its 42^nd annual Oktoberfest this year. The first Oktoberfest began just a year after Snowbird opened. The idea originated after a Bavarian band leader enjoying a resort tram ride heard a Swiss yodeler entertaining the guests. When he suggested Snowbird start an Oktoberfest, the resort jumped on board. The first event featured a few tables on the plaza and one large barbecue for grilling bratwurst, while the yodeler and Bavarian band entertained. Utah’s Oktoberfest also takes advantage of great pre-fall weather, kicking off in mid-August and continuing for nine weekends through mid-October.

 

3. Beer

Large beer tent crowds at Oktoberfest 2013.

It’s no secret people come for the beer (and accompanying party) at Munich’s Oktoberfest. Last year visitors consumed 6.7 million liters of beer, all of which hails from Munich breweries. The event features 14 large beer tents (several of which can hold up to 10,000 people between indoor and outdoor seating) and 20 smaller ones (the smallest fits 90). Getting into those beer tents, though, can be tricky. Individuals and companies often make reservations a year in advance. Though you can enter the tents without a reservation, they fill up very quickly; and once they do, you’re out of luck. On weekends the tents often close before 11 a.m. and it’s common for visitors to show up around 9 a.m. to procure good seats. I attended on a weekend evening and quickly learned I had no hope of getting inside. Even after sneaking into one of the tents, I was forced to leave because there was nowhere to sit. But I still found an outdoor area where I could grab a beer. And yes, those beer steins are large. The typical beer is served in one-liter glasses (called a Mass). This year for the first time the price of a Mass has risen to over €10. If you’re not a huge beer drinker (like me), you do have other options. They have non-alcoholic drinks like the popular apple spritzer (apple juice with water), or for a lighter beer, check out the Radler – beer mixed with lemonade or a soda like Sprite. That was my Oktoberfest drink of choice. Prost!

Snowbird’s Oktoberfest offers over 54 different types of beer. They have a wide variety of domestic and foreign beers (including several German imports), along with some special-order beers that can’t be purchased anywhere else in Utah. When it comes to sizes, they mimic the real Oktoberfest: Snowbird vendors offer liter-size beers, along with a smaller 22-ounce size. You buy the mug and then pay $7 to $10 for the beer or a refill. (Specialty imports cost more.) With the mugs, expect to spend $15 to $20 per drink. Without a glass, you’ll get a smaller beer for the same price – which explains why everyone seems to be carrying a glass stein at Oktoberfest. People save them and bring them year after year. If you’re not a beer drinker, you will find wine, Jägermeister shots and non-alcoholic drinks. For a sweeter, lighter beer option, I recommend the Schofferhofer grapefruit beer.

 

4. Food

An Oktoberfest waiter carries a large tray of traditional meals.

Inside Oktoberfest’s beer tents you’ll also find delicious Bavarian meals: roast pork or chicken, Viennese escalope, dumplings, schnitzel, the class pretzel and a lot of sweets. Some tents specialize in a particular food. And outside of the tents you’ll find all the usual fair grub like cotton candy and French fries (available with different sauces).

At Snowbird the big tent features typical German bratwurst with sauerkraut, beef rouladen, spiced veal sausage and more. Desserts include apple strudel and German chocolate cake. On the plaza you can find grilled brats and Doner Kebabs – a Turkish meat skewer served with vegetables that has become a German street staple.

 

5. Dress

I was surprised to find how popular it was at Oktoberfest for men to sport the traditional lederhosen and women to wear the traditional Bavarian dirndl dress. You see them everywhere, on the young and the old. Women’s dirndls come in all different colors and fabrics while men sport a few different checkered shirt looks with their leather suspender shorts. Around Oktoberfest, German department stores feature whole sections dedicated to the traditional clothing – and visitors get in on the action, too. I couldn’t resist buying a dirndl to wear.

At Snowbird, casual is the code. While several servers dress up in traditional Oktoberfest outfits, jeans and shorts are the most common festival attire.

 

6. Music & Entertainment

Bavarian dance group performing at Munich’s Oktoberfest.

Many large tents at Oktoberfest offer big brass bands playing traditional Bavarian music. In one tent you might catch a Bavarian dance group performing, in another a rock-and-roll band. Still others are known for crossbow competitions or cabarets. It’s safe to say you will hear a lot of singing in the beer tents. Post-Oktoberfest, Germans often discuss the most popular Oktoberfest song.

At Snowbird you will also hear traditional German Oktoberfest waltzes and songs. Entertainers play in the large food tent, where you might catch a few guests dancing along. You can also find local artists performing on the Chickadee stage next to the Alpine Slide.

 

7. Rides

General view of the funfair during the Oktoberfest beer festival.

Germany’s Oktoberfest isn’t just about the beer. It’s a huge carnival with tons of rides. From a Ferris wheel and roller coaster to airborne swings, you can enjoy all the fun of an amusement park.

Snowbird’s summer attractions and rides are also available during Oktoberfest. Check out the mountain coaster, Alpine Slide, zip line, trampolines, ropes course, rock climbing wall and, new this year, the Vertical Drop. Or you can enjoy the beauty of the mountains and take a hike or mountain bike ride. Last year, Snowbird launched a new mountain biking trail that winds down 7.5 miles, ending at the Oktoberfest site.

 

8. Kids

Kids dressed in traditional bavarian clothes participate in the opening parade of Oktoberfest.

Yes, kids visit Oktoberfest. With all the fair attractions, they actually have a lot to do. In addition to rides, kids can play tons of different carnival games. They can even visit the beer tents before 8 p.m. (though obviously they can’t drink the beer).

Kids and families are also welcome in Utah. In fact, many activities are catered just to them. Children will enjoy face painting, inflatables for bouncing, balloon sculptures, yo-yo demonstrations, dancing and even gold-mining on the plaza deck.

 

9. Getting There

Visitors from Australia in bavarian style clothes go by underground to Oktoberfest 2013.

Located in the center of Munich, everyone takes the subway to Oktoberfest in Germany. It’s a festive atmosphere on the subway trains as everyone is headed to the same site. And on busy weekend evenings, it can be very crowded.

Driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon, you can expect to find a quite a few cars on the canyon road. Parking is available at the Cliff Lodge and along the Alta bypass road. But be aware the parking lots are crowded and full. Arriving early will secure you better parking. However, even if you have to park farther away, Snowbird offers a shuttle to take you right to the opening gates. Guests can also take advantage of UTA bus routes up Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Germany’s Oktoberfest runs through October 4, while Utah’s Oktoberfest at Snowbird runs through Oct. 11.

Tonya Papanikolas is a freelance journalist who now considers herself an Oktoberfest connoisseur. She is still waiting for another chance to wear her beautiful expensive German dirndl.