NO NEED TO FEAR THE WURST
Oktoberfest takes the party online
You can add Germany's renowned Oktoberfest to the long list of festivals being cancelled this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oktoberfest finds its roots in Germany and has been around for well over 200 years, drawing more than six million people to the yearly event. And yes, the cancellation is heartbreaking — this famous fest celebrates all things Bavarian with good food and beer and plenty of partying — but necessary if we want to stomp this virus back to where it came from.
But that doesn't mean we can't celebrate in Canada. The good news is the famous Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest — considered the largest festival in the country and outside of Germany — has not been cancelled! But it will be different with new safety protocols in place and running over three weekends starting this weekend, two weeks earlier than usual. There will be some beloved events missing this year, but the heart and soul of the event is front and centre, including fundraising initiatives for local food banks.
“If the past five months have shown us anything, it's that our community continues to find innovative ways to come together safely,” said festival president Tim Beckett in a media statement. “With that spirit in mind, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest was determined to move forward to find a safe way to continue the tradition. This format allows people to decide how to join the festivities safely
— either in a restaurant or gathered at home — with those close to you.
Organizers call this year one of the most crucial ever: “We need to come together to celebrate community, heritage, friends, family and fun!” said organizers on Oktoberfest.ca, adding that “while Canada's largest Bavarian festival is taking a
different form this year, we are committed to bringing as much of our favourite festival to you through virtual events, small gatherings and some very special contests.”
Organizers promised livestreamed activities that include dancing, culture, food and music. In fact, official opening ceremonies will be livestreamed on Friday.
So go ahead and don your tracht or lederhosen, enjoy delicious Bavarian cuisine, polka around and toast all that is truly special to you. With all that beer and bratwurst, sauerkraut and gingerbread cookies, this festival is the proverbial door that opens up the country to all of autumn's glory.
To everyone, a hearty prost!
Check out oktoberfest.ca for further details.
And enjoy the following recipes so that you can have your own Octoberfest celebrations at home.
FAVOURITE FOODS
These include such hearty dishes, such as a selection of sausages including bratwurst, bauernwurst (a type of farmer's sausage), knockwurst and frankfurters.
Soft, oversized pretzels dipped in mouth-watering mustards are a must, potato dumplings as well as “spaetzle” egg noodles — enough to soak up all the gravy from such dishes as schnitzel in creamy mushroom sauce.
There's sauerkraut or pickled red cabbage for side dishes and gingerbread cookies and dark chocolate cake with sour cherry sauce for dessert.
And beer, of course!