KENNER, LA – For three consecutive weekends in October, Kenner's Rivertown will come alive with German food, music and beer as the Deutsches Haus hosts its annual Oktoberfest, a longstanding tradition from the organization dedicated to preserving German culture, language and heritage in the New Orleans area.
Each Friday and Saturday from Friday, October 9, through Saturday, October 24, 2015, visitors will enjoy live music performances, unique events and German food and beer. The first beer keg will be tapped as Kenner Mayor Michael S. Yenni officially opens the festival at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9.
The Oktoberfest's fourth annual Dachshund Dash will begin at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, and beer stein holding contests will be held every day of the festival. An Oktoberfest 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, October 10, with a start time of 5:00 p.m. Children's activities will be held each day at the Kids Korner, or Kinderecke, and will include such interests as arts and crafts, games, face-painting, storytelling and puppet performances. The Kinderchor children's choir will perform at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 24.
The Oktoberfest menu will feature a variety of traditional German entrees including beef-filled cabbage rolls, German-style meatloaf with mushroom sauce, beef sauerbraten, fried pork schnitzel with jager sauce or mushroom sauce, roasted pork loin with black cherry sauce and black beer glazed smoked pork loin. German sides available each day are sauerkraut, red cabbage, creamed potatoes and the Deutsches Haus specialty warm German potato salad with bacon. Grilled bratwurst, Weisswurst and knackwurst and other German favorites along with American favorites of chicken nuggets, corn nuggets and French fries will be offered each weekend. There will also be 16 different German beers to enjoy.
Oktoberfest will feature live music performances from opening until closing each festival day. Yodel Blitz, a yodel-blitzing group providing polka dancing, will perform live on the first weekend. Das Ist Lustig, a traditional German and Alpine music group will be forming on Oct. 16 and 17 with Off the Grid Band's polka beat musicians entertaining on the last weekend. Other German bands scheduled to perform during Oktoberfest include The Bräts, Prost, Dixie Hofkapelle and Der Guten Tag Hop Cloppers. The 610 Stompers and the Disco Amigos will also be performing, with times and dates to be announced.
"We are more than excited for some new additions this year," said Theresa Crosby, the Deutsches Haus' new executive director. "We are adding some local flavor with a performance by the 610 Stompers and Disco Amigos, as well as great food by Uptown's popular St. James Cheese Company and freshly baked 12-inch Pretzels by a new local company, ASAP Pretzels, served with a side of beer cheese sauce or your favorite mustard. We also have a new historical exhibit."
"The turnout for Oktoberfest has grown to the point that it is the single biggest event during the year in Rivertown," Yenni said. "This event will delight the kids but it is just as much fun for the adults. If you are one of the few that hasn't yet experienced Oktoberfest, I urge you to come down and enjoy the fun."
On the three weekends of the festival, the doors will open on Fridays at 4:00 p.m. and close at 11:00 p.m. On Saturdays, the festival will run from 1:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
Admission is $6 at the door.
There is no charge for children under 12.
Active duty military personnel are welcomed without charge.
