Legions clad in lederhosen took to the Nicollet County Fairgrounds over the weekend for St. Peter's favorite Bavarian bash. Over Friday and Saturday, St. Peter's two-day Oktoberfest celebration saw record crowds as community members came out to enjoy seasonal brews and rock out to classic 80's tunes.
Rows of kegs were emptied at what the St. Peter Ambassadors deemed the most attended event in the group's history, beating out showings for not only past Oktoberfests but other Ambassadors-sponsored events like Blues Fest and the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
"Rocktoberfest" may have been a more apt name for the 13th annual German celebration as scores of classic rock fans flooded into the fairgrounds for Oktoberfest's headbanging concert lineup.
Folks who showed up for Friday's concert witnessed a hair-metal inspired outing from Rough House a classic rock band best known in the local area opening shows for Hairball. Rough House made their Oktoberfest debut just before headliners IV Play delivered a mesmerizing showcase of rock, country and pop hits from the 80s and 90s to the present day.
The rock and roll continued to roll onto Saturday night with Mankato's Rock of Ages taking the stage ahead of shape-shifting, glam rock tribute band The Hype. As Oktoberfest first-timers, the Hype wowed audiences with a five-in-one showcase of the greatest hits of Def Leppard, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Poison and Bon Jovi.
Though the rock acts may have brought the largest crowds, there was no shortage of traditional German fare for Oktoberfest enthusiasts. Whether it was dancing the polka to the sounds of the Bockfest Boys, Schell's Hobo Band or the Concord singers; putting one's muscles to the test in the annual stein hoist competition or racing with a glass of beer in the 0.01k chug run there were plenty of classic Oktoberfest traditions for community members to enjoy.
One of those classic Oktoberfest events was Friday's sauerkraut eating contest, which saw over a dozen competitors chow down on a stein-full of fermented cabbage for a chance to win an honorary Oktoberfest beer mug and a $25 cash prize. The winner of the mug and the contestant who stomached down their sauerkraut the quickest was Deb Kroubetz, who competed in the event alongside her husband Dan.
"It feels awesome," Kroubetz said on the win, her first after four years taking part in the competition.
Dan said he and his wife have enjoyed going to Oktoberfest for over eight years. They always show up to see one of their favorite polka bands, the Bockfest Boys, in action.
"They're good friends and people," said Dan Kroubetz.
While there was no shortage of beer to be found at Oktoberfest — including samplings from Paddlefish Brewing Co. and Tremendous Brewing Co., scheduled to open in St. Peter later this fall — there were also plenty of family-friendly activities for the kids. Saturday not only featured a Kidtoberfest parade where kids were encouraged to break out their Halloween costumes for a march from the baseball field to the fairgrounds, it also featured a kids' zone with a bounce houses, Halloween decor and children's activities.
Ensuring everyone at Oktoberfest had a good time was Festmeister Mark Wettergren and his festscheister, Bill "Rat" Radloff. Wettergren is a born-and-raised St. Peter native who spent more tan 25 years as a rural carrier for the Post Office.
"I've been mentored by the 12 greatest festmeisters," said Wettergren." I've been told that I am doing ok. I feel that I have the best festscheister and I couldn't do it without my first fraulein, my wife (Jackie)."
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