A glimpse of Munich returns to Trinity Park Sept. 25-27 with the annual Fort Worth Oktoberfest. The three-day event brings traditional German beer, food, attire and music, all provided by authentic German vendors.
“We try to follow the original Munich model, where you have multiple beer halls with entertainment,” Shanna Granger, the event coordinator said. “You can dance and sing, or sit in a beer garden and drink, but it’s always lively.”
Attendance reached 30,000 last year, up from 23,000 in 2022.
The festival is popular with the TCU German Club.
“Last year we just had a lot of fellowship, just hanging out by the food, trying different things,” Theo Batty, the TCU German Club president said. “We would practice our German there as well. Overall, having a place where it feels like home for the club was really nice. I’m looking forward to getting into the more cultural activities this year.”
Opening night pays homage to an iconic tradition from Munich with a ceremonial tapping of the keg.
“In Germany, the mayor of Munich, every year to kick off [Oktoberfest], grabs a wooden mallet and hits the spout of a big wooden keg and the beer comes out,” Granger said. “At our Oktoberfest, everybody lines up on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and people get their free beer.”
From there, guests can wander into air-conditioned beer halls, relax under the trees of the beer gardens or explore what the German market has to offer. Families can enjoy carnival rides and amusements, dachshund races and nightly stein-hoisting contests. Friday’s Oktoberfest Olympics raises money for local nonprofits.
“Within the festival, you’ve got your main things, the beer, the food, the music, but then all these little activities going on,” Granger said. “There’s always something to do.”
While Fort Worth may have its own Texas spin on the tradition, Oktoberfest itself is rooted in Bavarian history.
“It’s a Bavarian custom,” Scott Williams, a TCU German professor said. “It started when King Ludwig married Princess Therese in 1810. They made a week-long celebration with horse races and, of course, lots of beer. The meadow where it happened was named for the princess, and the people kept celebrating year after year.”
For Batty and the TCU German Club, as well as the TCU community, the Fort Worth event offers both an element of convenience and culture.
“Oktoberfest is just a quick drive from campus,” Batty said. “It’s definitely not an opportunity exclusive for people in the German program. Anyone can take advantage of seeing a different culture and overall, have a fun night.”
