COURTESY PHOTO
WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN OCTOBER
October
01
GO: Oktoberfest is October 1-2 at Crown Center. General admission tickets are $10, VIP is $55. Small mugs are $3. All attendees will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test.
LET THE GUTEN ZEITEN ROLL
Tradition and authenticity. For KC Bier Co., these are the central components of their annual Oktoberfest, which, after a brief hiatus last year, is back with all the schnickschnack that we’ve come to expect. For a native-born Bavarian, many American Oktoberfests may seem a far cry from the traditional revelry that they’re accustomed to— there are no pee troughs, giant wreaths hung from the rafters or rival beer tents. But KC Bier Co. aims to produce a fest that would make any German transplant feel right at home.
It starts with the beer. Everything at the fest is made only with imported malt and hops and brewed using traditional recipes and techniques. It’s paired with bratwursts, pretzels and schnitzel. You’ll see locals in lederhosen and dirndls. And just in case the drinking isn’t enough, there are of course games and music, too—look for a hammer-strike (hammerschlagen) and stein-hoisting contest (masskrugstemmen). There’s a long set of bands like Polka on Steroids and the Bavarski band playing traditional, high-energy German music. “They will have you standing on the tables,” says organizer Cathy Holle. “Just like a true Bavarian Oktoberfest.” — E T H A N E VA N S
KANSASCITYMAG.COM OCTOBER 2021
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