We're taking a look at which cities go large for Oktoberfest around the world.
October in Australia means we’re shedding winter’s gloom and getting out in the warmer, sunnier days we’ve been longing for.
Oktoberfest in the gardens is a perfect one for those in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne who can get along to this (PS: If you book tickets for Oktoberfest in the Gardens, you'll get a sweet little discount with us storewide)!
We know Australians love their beer, outdoors and festivals, but Oktoberfest’s diverse history is widely loved and embraced in places that may surprise you. Some cities host the festival for just a few days over the usual seventeen.
Let's look at how the world rocks Oktoberfest
Oh, Canada!
If you’re in North America, more specifically Kitchener-Waterloo in Ontario, from 7 October, you can be part of 700,000 visitors to
Canada’s biggest Oktoberfest celebration. After the Mayor taps the keg to open the ceremony (a German favourite), from the pork knuckle and goulash, you’ll experience farmers market, sporting events and treasure hunts. There’s even a Miss Oktoberfest competition.
Viva la Brazil
Brazilians sure know how to throw a party on a city-sized scale, and they make no exception for their Oktoberfest extravaganza. The hot spot is found in the city Blumenau, Santa Caterina, one of two Brazilian cities rich in
German heritage, and where some 600,000 Brazilians and tourists come to get down.
Oktoberfest of Blumenau is the biggest German festival across all the Americas, and lasts for 17 days German gastronomical delights are a huge feature, with the best of bratwurst, spaetzle, strudels and bretzel your belly can handle. Washed down with gallons of golden lager, of course.
Rocking in the USA
There are many American cities steeped in German ancestry dating back to the early 1800’s. Like Brazil's Blumenau, the culture, architecture and food are greatly influenced and cherished.
Here's the cities you’ll find ‘Oktoberfesters’ in America, each adding their flair while paying homage to tradition.
Festival goers experience parades, pageants, polka bands, and the revered Medallion Hunt. You'll also find brat eating contests, root beer fun run, and unleashing the hounds for the Dachshund Dash!
Meanwhile, in China..
It might surprise you to know that the Chinese love Oktoberfest! Giving the original festival a run on numbers, in Qingdao around 3 million visitors attend Oktoberfest, which forms part of their
Qingdao Beer Festival. Bavarian dress up is not as common, but German food, brass band music and mass drinking competitions unite with Peking opera performances and karaoke.
You'll find parties happening in Shanghai and Beijing too, where Chinese and German culture, food and ambience combine similarly for these one-of-a-kind events that the people flock to every year.
Tip your Tirolerhüte to tradition
Tirolerhüte is the traditional German hat. If you’re celebrating Oktoberfest in Australia this October, get planning now and
head to Blossom Costumes to curate the perfect Bavarian dirndl or lederhosen. Prost!
