Oktoberfest Party Ideas

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How to throw an awesome Oktoberfest Party

This year the official Oktoberfest starts on September 20.  It’s time to start pulling together your ideas for your Oktoberfest party!  I’ve created a list to help you out!

1. Oktoberfest-themed invitations –  I found these cute ones on Etsy. A cute hand-made invitation can even be a fun keepsake.  Be sure to ask the creator how much of it can actually be customized to your taste.

2. Oktoberfest music – No Oktoberfest party is complete if there isn’t an oom-pah-pah band playing in the background!  I listened to various albums through Amazon and found this one to be my favorite:Traditional Oktoberfest music.  Music is essential when entertaining.  By setting the tone, it often enhances the atmosphere, and helps make it a ‘good time’ as you wait for guests to arrive.

3. German beer – You should serve only German beer at your Oktoberfest!  There are only six breweries in Munich that can produce the official Oktoberfest beer.  You should buy from one of them: Hofbräu, Augustiner, Paulaner, Hacker-Pschorr, Spaten, and Löwenbräu.  Traditionally, it is also served in the 1 Liter glass beer stein.

4. Oktoberfest-themed decor – I found these really cute printables which would be great for labeling your appetizers and food. I like these themed-printables because it adds the extra little oomph that your party might be needing.  It’s also inexpensive.

5. Plates and napkins – Blue and white are the colors of Oktoberfest.  This bundled plate wear is festive and fun. Or, if you want a say in the decorations, you can create your own plates and placemats for your party through Shutterfly.

6. Traditional German Food – Break out the schnitzel and sauerkraut!  Here are some links to some great recipes:

• Authentic German Pretzel Bites
• Traditional Pretzels
• Hot German Potato Salad
• Cucumber-Dill Salad
• Bratwurst Stewed with Sauerkraut
• Roast pork (Schweinebraten)
• German Red Cabbage (Rotkohl)
• Onion and Cheese Käsespätzle
• Potato Pancakes (Kartoffelpuffer)
• Traditional Apple Strudel
• Black Forest Cake

7. Coasters – Where are you going to set down your cold drinks?  How about on some nice coasters!  Many people like to keep their coasters as souvenirs from when they visit Germany.  Why don’t you make some custom coasters through Shutterfly and give them out as party favors? For something truly authentic, you could also purchase some German coasters here.

8 and 9: Dirndl and Lederhosen: If you really want to get into the spirit of Oktoberfest, I recommend purchasing a dirndl or lederhosen; these are theme-appropriate outfits that will surely make you the ‘hostess with the mostess’. This blog post has some great information about how to buy a dirndl.  The German Import Haus sells authentic German outfits.

Some quick Oktoberfest FAQ:

What exactly is Oktoberfest?
It is a celebration that has been held nearly every year since 1810 in Munich, Germany.  It is a 16-day festival that runs from late September into the first weekend in October.  It was started on October 12, 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen on the Theresienwiese (Theresa’s Meadow).  To this day, the celebrations are still held on the Theresienwiese!  In Munich, an average of 6 million people visit during this festival.

Why is it called Oktoberfest when it starts in September?
The festival was moved up to enjoy the nicer weather of September.

For more information about the Oktoberfest, visit here.