ALL THE FUN OF THE FEST!
Traditional German culture, beer and food has arrived at Alton Towers for its Oktoberfest celebration. BETHAN SHUFFLEBOTHAM dropped in to try it out...
BRATWURST sausages, Bavarian bier kellers and lederhosenclad musicians – it could only be Oktoberfest!
The German-themed event at Alton Towers is part of the resort’s 40th anniversary – with a host of sociallydistanced entertainment for all the family. We paid a visit, sampling the traditional Deutsche cuisine, riding white-knuckle roller coasters and making a Prost (toast) in the bier keller.
On arrival, our temperatures were taken before we were allowed into the park, which is operating with fewer ticket sales to maintain a reduced number of guests. The Oktoberfest area spanned the front lawn before Mutiny Bay, overlooking the water and the Grade Ii-listed building. Socially distanced picnic tables with ‘easy-wipe’ tops were spread across the grass between two stages, where live music played between 2pm and 7pm.
There were also beer barrels stood on end for those who preferred to stand, with some two metres apart around low crackling fire pits where people could keep warm in the crisp, autumn weather. Armed with a German pretzel and a luxury Cadbury’s hot chocolate from the Lebkuchen, I pulled up a pew near the main stage as a lederhosen-wearing musician played the accordion and sung traditional German drinking songs while getting people to dance in their bubbles. There were six food and drink stalls selling hog roast, bratwurst, pretzels, loaded fries and sweet treats.
The Lebkuchen was selling giant marshmallows ready to toast on their own firepit.
We tried the Galadene Pommes (loaded fries), and washed them down with a cider from the Bavarian bier keller, which was also serving German beers such as
Spaten, Erdinger and Beck’s. An acoustic musician sang well known covers on the second stage, while a German-themed oompah band set up on the main stage. Speakers were positioned around the lawn so everyone could hear.
Oompah band German Jukebox performed upbeat covers on horns and trumpets, including songs by Backstreet Boys and Whitney Houston.
There were even some friendly characters walking around the lawn to greet little ones. Rides were open until 6pm - but will be open later Friday to Sunday, and there were barely any queues.
We braved Rita, waiting just 15 minutes in a socially distanced queue, where visitors were all wearing facemasks and following the park’s Covid safety measures, sanitising regularly at dedicated stations.
There was a zerominute wait for Oblivion, where we were given a front row seat at the vertical drop. To ensure the safety of guests, the ride was regularly disinfected, which was evident the second you touched the freshly-sanitised harnesses.
Each bubble of guests was separated by an empty seat to help keep a distance, and masks had to be worn on the ride – though I feared mine was going to fly off.
Finally, we queued about five minutes for the newly opened Wicker Man – the UK’S first new wooden roller coaster in 20 years.
Riders were in every other cart, so solo riders had no one in front, behind or at the side of them.
The ride hits speeds of 44mph with three drops, two tunnels and three passes through the Wicker Man – but I did have my eyes closed for most of the ride.