Students say Oktoberfest about fun and, duh, beer
Ryan Tubongbanua / The Collegian
“I drink here every now and then, usually just to relax and have a beer,” Kevin Alexander said, while hanging out at the Bucket on campus. The fourth-year business major doesn’t plan on overindulging on brews in the Oktoberfest spirit. “I never have more than one or two because I don’t want to be plastered at school,” Alexander said. |
By Benjamin Baxter
The Collegian
Though the original Oktoberfest celebration in Munich has been over since the third of the month, cities around the world are just starting their celebration of German heritage.
Are Fresno State students doing anything this year?
“I haven’t been to Oktoberfest since I was at one actually in Germany,” Sean Nelson, a computer science junior said.
“I had a blast, from what I could remember from it,” Nelson said. “That is, the first 20 minutes.”
Oktoberfest does have a reputation for heavy drinking, among the Fresno State students who know about it.
What does senior music major Janet Maggio know Oktoberfest for? “Beer and women.”
Nonetheless, she said she still would be interested some other time. “October is so busy for me. I don’t have the time for Oktoberfest,” she said.
A quick Internet search reveals that the original Oktoberfest was nothing more than an 1810 royal wedding celebration and horse race for then Crown Prince Ludwig, but has been held annually since.
Since that first Oktoberfest with its lavish beginnings, the festival has grown significantly. At the traditional Munich site of Oktoberfest, more than six million people — mostly Bavarians — attend the festival since it gained international acclaim in the mid-20th century.
It became so popular in the last 50 years that other cities began to hold their own celebrations, although with additions and changes.
While in Germany the event is typically celebrated in the two weeks or so right before the first Sunday of October, the dates can vary from place to place.
In fact, the most recent Oktoberfest festival in Fresno was last week. It featured German brews and a local oompah band and was headlined local ska band Los Hooligans.
Fagan’s Irish Pub, a popular location for many Fresno State students, also had its own celebration.
Carrie Fagan, proprietor, said that Oktoberfest happens during a good time of the year.
“It really is a celebration of the changing of the seasons,” Fagan said, “and in Germany especially this is a big time of the year for celebration.”
The bar served traditional schnitzel, sauerbraten and bratwurst alongside its usual corned beef fare, and several German beers and wines were also specials.Though Fagan’s Pub’s Oktoberfest celebration ended Tuesday, many of their German beers are still available.
“I think it’s good to know the different festivals from different cultures. There are traditions it’s probably important to know,” said junior agriculture business major Rosie Ibarra.
Jessie Cain, an athletic training senior, has some perspective, from the three years she lived in Germany. “I just know it’s a good time to have a good time and drink beer,” she said, “but any time is a good time to have a good time and drink beer in Germany.”
The Germans, she said, must really like the festivities. “I know it’s a big deal in Germany.” Cain said. “I was never at the big one in Munich, but I went to other ones.
“It’s like a giant festival in Germany, one big beer tank.
I’d go back. I loved Europe and Germany’s a great place.”
Oktoberfest might just deserve a reputation for drinking to excess in her experience. “I think I drank more beer in the first three months I was there than I ever had or ever will in my life,” Cain said.
Ibarra echoed the feelings. “You have to have a happy moment now and then,” Ibarra said. “Just once a year is okay, I guess. Just one beer can’t hurt.”
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