Vail Celebrates 50 Years Of Oktoberfest Over Two Weekends In September
Vail will celebrate 50 years of its legendary Oktoberfest celebrations this year with two weekends of fun. Lionshead will host the first weekend, (Sept. 5-7) and Vail Village will host the second weekend (Sept. 12-14). During both weekends, festgoers will enjoy live music, keg bowling, delicious German food including warm pretzels, schnitzel and brats from Polidori Sausage, Colorado’s oldest family-owned sausage maker celebrating 100 years this year, and of course, a fine selection of Steigl beer.
Attendees can also participate in a variety of fun contests including brat eating and stein lifting and watch traditional dancing performed by the Denver Kickers Schuhplattlers and the Alpen Auerhahn Schuhplattlers. Vail Oktoberfest welcomes families, and children will enjoy an inflatable Kids Zone.
Entrance to Vail Oktoberfest is free. Festgoers can purchase a ceramic commemorative Vail Oktoberfest stein and sample beers from Steigl at multiple locations in Lionshead and Vail Village.
WHO: 89-year-old Helmut Fricker, a German native who survived World War II and came to the U.S. with his family in 1969, will perform at both locations as Helmut Fricker and The Rhinelanders. The legendary Bavarian yodeler began performing at Vail’s first Oktoberfest 50 years ago in 1975.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Vail Lionshead Village Oktoberfest, Sept. 5-7
Live music includes the Average German Band, Neue Polka Band, the Polkanauts and world acclaimed accordionist Alex Meixner Band, a dynamic accordionist who has performed on stages around the world.
Vail Village Oktoberfest, Sept. 12-14
Live music includes the Average German Band, Neue Polka Band and The Blue Ox Boys, a five-piece bluegrass band spanning traditional and contemporary music.
Contests at both Vail locations include:
- The Polidori Bratwurst Eating Competition
- Bavarian Costume Contest
- Stiegl Stein Lifting Competition
- Stiegl Keg Bowling Competition
More Details: To learn more, find accommodations or to pre-order a stein, please visit www.OktoberfestVail.com.
