While Zinzinnati once laid claim to the world record for the largest chicken dance, (and also, what Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neal dubbed the “Least Metal Moment in History“); and Munich has a Bierzelt (tent) that seats up to 10,000 guests.
Covington’s own Volksfest is steeped in history and tradition while our kräftig (robust) German heritage shines against the backdrop of MainStrasse’s 19th-century architecture surrounding Goebel Park.
Covington’s Oktoberfest weekend is packed with traditional attire, food, games, music, and — of course — beer this weekend.
In Munich, the original festival kicks off at noon when the mayor taps the first keg and exclaims, “O’zapft is!” (which is Bavarian for “it is tapped!”).
In Covington, Shelia Gray of Local 12 News has the honors with the first keg-tapping of the event at 6 p.m. on Friday in Goebel Park. After that, it’s “Oans, zwoa, g’suffa!” – Bavarian for “One, two, drink up!” But be forewarned: The beer consumed here was brewed for this Oktoberfest occasion and of a heavier variety – most Oktoberfest beers have a 5% to 7% alcohol by volume percentage.
Clinking mugs before taking a swig is a serious tradition (and with the steins holding a liter of beer, a serious workout) that comes with a few unspoken rules: Make eye contact with your new drinking buddies while raising a toast. To not lock eyes is viewed as rude and some say will doom the drinker to a life lived von dir selbst, or alone.
After a hearty “Prost!” is called out (while making constant and not creepy eye contact), the steins are bumped back down on the table before being lifted back up for a frothy first sip. Don’t even think of saluting a friend with a glass of water: Toasting with H20 is bad luck.
While not required, many attendees come dressed to the neúner (nines) in traditional attire. Nothing helps the beer go down easier than a Tirolerhüte, (Bavarian hat) with a plume of goat hair and feathers adorning the brim.
The story goes that the bigger the plume, the wealthier the family. If hats aren’t your first choice of accouterment, many don a pair of leather shorts with suspenders called Lederhosen. A popular choice, they can be seen upon the loins of many male and female attendees paired with a button-up shirt and woolen knee-high socks.
A Dirndl is a traditional dress a fashionable Frauen (lady) may wear that not only keeps one cool on a hot day but also broadcasts the wearer’s relationship status. Has the fair maiden tied her ribbon on the right side? Sorry, she’s not looking for a Stelldichein (date). Tied to the right? Chug the last of your Löwenbräu and gather up the courage to ask that süsse Frau (a nice lady) to join you on the dance floor – Viel Spass! (she’s single!).
Ah the very least it is advisable to wear comfortable shoes for walking, standing, and dancing. Perhaps even vomit-proof, such as these that come with your very own beer stein.
This leads us to the ubiquitous dance that defines Oktoberfest for many: Der Ententanz or the Chicken Dance. Literally meaning “Dance Little Bird,” dancers mimic chicken movements with their hands and arms while shaking their posteriors to a waltz-type tune played by a band of “oom-pah” instruments: tubas, clarinets, the seldomly attractive accordion, and the Alpenhorn, which was traditionally used as a way to calm down anxious cows during milking in the Swiss Alps.
So you’ve been drinking beer by the gallon and flapping your arms and twisting the day away in your leather shorts, puke-proof shoes, and ribcage-crunching corset — and all that chicken-dancing has made you hungry.
While you could spend your entire visit drinking (which we don’t encourage), there’s no shortage of traditional food choices along the Budenstrassa, or Avenue of Booths. Sample some Hendl (a half or whole spit-roasted chicken), Haxn (pork knuckles), Würstl (sausages), Knoedel (dumplings), or Brotzeit (snacks consisting of meats, cheeses radishes, and bread), or a Brezen (pretzel) as big as your head at any one of the vendors throughout Goebel Park.
What started as a party to honor the marriage of Prince Ludwig and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen in 1810 has become a yearly tradition for festival fanatics across the globe with over 3,000 Oktoberfest celebrations in every country. For us in Covington, it has been a way to celebrate the heritage of over 50% of the population and continue traditions learned from generations long before us.
So this weekend, Lasst euch nicht lumpen, hoch mit dem Humpen! and visit the Covington Oktoberfest presented by Braxton Brewing Co. at Goebel Park.
Friday it is open from 5:00 to 11:00, Saturday 11:00-11:00, and Sunday 11:00-8:00.
