A Taste of Germany
Traditionally, Oktoberfest is one of the world’s largest folk
festivals in Germany. However, last Saturday, thousands of miles
away from Germany, Fort Collins broke out the lederhosen and
whipped broke out the beer and brats to continue this annual
tradition.
On a beautiful fall day in September, families and friends
gathered around Old Town Plaza to hear the sounds of The Foothills
Pop Band, which featured traditional German music. Lead by
conductor Glenn Schull, the band played an array of sounds that
were enjoyable to listen to and required audience
participation.
At one point in the performance a band member raised his beer
mug and shouted, “Ein Prosit der Gemuetlickeit!” (A toast to our
camaraderie.)
Following the pop band was local oompah band favorite Dick
Zavodn.
“Dick Zavodn is a very lively fellow,” said Florence Bailey, a
Fort Collins resident.
The headliners for the 2003 Oktoberfest were Newcomers Home, a
bluegrass pop-rock band with a twist of Celtic music intertwined in
the beats. Newcomers Home were promoting their new album “Live at
the Boulder Theater,” which will be released on October 11th.
Fort Collins Oktoberfest is about preserving the longstanding
event of Germany cultural, but the event was also striving to raise
money in support of Kiwanis International, an organization whose
purpose is to serve children around the world.
“We have about 10 kegs, will probably only go through 8 of them,
but we really are here to serve the children,” said Jim O’Neill,
spokesperson for Kiwanis International.
The money raised at this year’s Oktoberfest will be used for
various children’s projects and community services project, such as
the Girl Scouts, said O’Neill.
Whether residents came to enjoy the live entertainment or to sit
back with a mug of beer and a brat to relax, this year’s Fort
Collins Oktoberfest was delivered in traditional German
fashion.
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