If you can’t make it to Munich this year but you still want to join in the beer-fuelled fun, then why not organise your Oktoberfest party?
Image by constant progression
As October comes around again, it’s time to dig out your lederhosen, polish your clogs and stock up on beer. Yes, put on some energetic, clap-inducing Bavarian folk music, it’s time for Oktoberfest.
Oktoberfest combines outstanding beers, old world charm and a fun, party atmosphere. Not everyone can make it to Munich to join the 6.2 million party-goers, but you can recreate the charm of the festival in your own home.
Party Invitations
Before the party has even begun, you can have some fun with invites. One of my favourite ideas is to send out German postcards to your friends, inviting them to your Bavarian shin-dig. Either that or design vintage beer-themed invites like this one.
Even if you don’t speak German, you can still add German phrases to your invites by calling your guests ‘Herr Jones’ and ‘Frau Jones’ instead of Mr and Mrs. Or try out these useful phrases ‘Sie sind herzlich eingeladen’ (meaning ‘You are cordially invited’) or ‘Ein Prosit’ (meaning Toast).
Decorate!
Right, now it’s time to transform your house into a celebratory German beer tent. The traditional festivities take place in huge beer tents, with long, wooden tables and benches. It is quite unlikely that you’ll have a huge tent and medieval style tables in the attic, just waiting for such an occasion to arrive. But fear not, this look can easily be recreated in any house.
Try hanging a white sheet over the dining table, to give that outdoor canvas feel to your nice, cosy house. Push any tables you have together to create the longest possible table and then pack this with German foodie delights and a large selection of beers.
To decorate your party room, try to stick to the Bavarian colour scheme of white and blue. You can apply this to bunting, flags, banners and you could even get a Bavarian themed catering tablecloth, to create the perfect centrepiece for the food and drink.
For other decorative ideas try using empty beer bottles as candle holders, adorn your walls with vintage German travel posters and try making some German paper stars.
Costumes
Traditional Bavarian costumes are full of charm and are probably one of my favourites. If you want your party to be awash with lederhosen, aprons and golden plaits of hair, then suggest these costume ideas to your guests.
For guys, it’s lederhosen all the way! This means dark shorts held up by suspenders and a country-style shirt underneath, as pictured here.
For girls, a dirndl is the must-have wear. This is a dress which you wear over a blouse with an apron, as shown in the picture here. Girls can also plait their hair to complete the look.
Beer
Beer is probably one of the most essential components of an Oktoberfest party. And not just any old beer, this has to be proper beer. You should aim to have a large selection, so that you can have you own sampling table.
Taste ‘hops and barley’ like you’ve never experienced before with delicious and unusual beers from around the world. Avoid any ‘supermarket’ beers and try to pick things that you wouldn’t normally drink – the more unusual the better!
Or, if you can’t find enough unusual beers near you, you could make your own custom beer labels, creating medieval style fantasy beers of your choosing. You could even personalise the bottles for your guests!
Last but not least, you should consider investing in some ‘Steins’. These are traditional German beer jugs, guaranteed to add charm to your festivities.
Image by HoustonEntree
Food
German food is warm and comforting – the perfect accompaniment to a stein of beer! Try making some classic dishes like sautéed sausages with apple and bacon sauerkraut. As a tasty side you could make a German potato salad.
For those with a sweet tooth, Germany has a lot to offer. Classics like apple strudel and pretzels always go down well. Or you could be a bit more adventurous and try Lebkuchan, German ginger biscuits.
Music
There is no better way to kick off an Oktoberfest party than with clap-along, sing-along Bavarian folk music. This music is jolly, catchy and full of charm.
If you get tired of tradition, you could always try some classic German pop like Kraftwerk as the evening progresses.
Activities
To create the perfect party atmosphere, try learning a German folk dance with your guests. You can see merry jig in action here, although these men are pros, so your dance might be a little less coordinated than this! After a few beers this would certainly be a challenge…
This next idea only works if you have a large outdoor space (unless you don’t mind having beer-soaked house). A ‘beer stein race’ is a great party game, where each guest races 100m carrying a stein jug full to the brim with beer.
And if you fancy a challenge (and a laugh!) why not suggest a yodelling contest!
So let’s have a toast to this authentic German celebration! Begin planning your Oktoberfest party today…
Have you ever had an Oktoberfest party? Do you have tips for creating the perfect party? Share your thoughts below.
Bio: Susannah Perez is fashion blogger who loves planning themed parties – from space age to Stone Age and from Hawaiian bliss to German jollity!
