Everything You Need to Know About Oktoberfest

Update Tuesday, Oct. 9

Check out our video and photo gallery of Lansdale's Oktoberfest at this link.

Earlier Story

When's the last time you Masskrugstemmened?

Lansdale's Oktoberfest kicks off at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in White's Road Park — and the blue and white, Bavarian-style beer tent is up in the parking lot and ready for people to party.

Later in the day, around 4 p.m., volunteers will be asked to take part in the first Masskrugstemmen Championship.

All you have to do — hold a full liter stein of beer directly in front of you, with elbow locked in extension, for as long as possible without spillage. The American record is 10 minutes.

Check out a video of such a championship at this link.

The beer will be Warsteiner Beer in the following brands: Oktoberfest, Dunkel, Weiss and Lager.

There will also be a selection of local and festival beers.

Beer is $5 each and you must buy tickets to get beer.

According to Mayor Andy Szekely, who created and organizes the Oktoberfest along with Lansdale Area Fundraising Society, local sponsorship for the event has reached more than $8,000. Expenses are estimated at around $6,000, he said, which doesn't include the kegs of beer.

Check out the event's Facebook page.

What Events Are Going On?

"Beer sales start at 11 a.m.," said Szekely. "Volunteers are set for beer sales, checking IDs, selling mugs and T-shirts."

Red Hill Deutsche Band will kick off things at 11 a.m.

Noon will see the procession of and ceremonial tapping of the Firkin from Lansdale Library to White's Road Park.

"Rest up (from First Friday)," said Councilwoman Mary Fuller at Wednesday's borough council meeting. "At 11 a.m. Saturday morning, I'd like to see all of you at the library to help us with a firkin procession. We're going to follow the firkin on a mount of its own to lead us to the Oktoberfest festivities."

Fuller said "come as you are," and added the tractor and flat the firkin will be on will be decorated with scarecrow scraps from First Friday.

"We have all this nicely interwoven together," Fuller said.

Almrausch German Dancers will perform at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and Tuba Force performs at 1 p.m.

Ready your jaw and ready your face to bob for apples at 2 p.m.

Guang Ha Chinese Dancers will perform at 3 p.m.

Find a partner now for the Potato Sac Races at 3:30 p.m.

Scottish bagpiping from Darius Kauffman, who has accompanied Sinead O'Connor, is at 4:30 p.m.

A pie eating contest ends the events at 5 p.m.

There will also be children's activities throughout the course of the day: It'll be a scarecrow-making, face-painting, pumpkin-painting blast.

Pull on the lederhosen, belt the kilt, tighten the kimono and check your sumo gear — there is a contest for Best Internationally-Dressed Man, Woman and Child, with prizes.

What's There to Eat?

Mustard Crused Roast Pork with German potato salad — $7.50

Beer-poached Brot and Kraut Sandwich with German potato salad — $7.50

Grilled Knock-Braised Cabbage Sandwich with potato salad — $7

Spatzle and Weisswurst with potato salad — $8

Pierogies with Sour Cream — $4

Fried Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce — $6

Deep Fried Oreos — $4

Funnel Cake — $6

Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara — $5

French Fries — $5

Onion Rings wiht Texas Petal Sauce — $4

Chicken Fingers — $6

Panico's, Philly Soft Pretzel Factory, Smoke House BBQ and Cardinal Hollow Winery will set up food around 8 a.m.

Who's Helping Out?

North Penn ROTC volunteers are helping set up tables and chairs, as well as take down at the end of the day.

Who Are the Sponsors?

Lansdale Warehouse — $400

Cargo Sales — $100

PDC Machines — $500

HD Kitchens & Baths — $100

Yocum Ford — $200

Tabora Farms — $100

Round Guys Brewery — $100

Wes Carver Electric — $100

Prescott Insurance — $100

Pennoni Engineers — $200

Remington, Vernick and Beach Engineers — $200

State Rep. Bob Godshall — $250

First Niagara Bank — $100

North Penn Animal Hospital — $100

Lansdale Hospital — $300

BSC Accountants — $100

Carol Clemens — $100

Murray’s Garage — $100

TD Bank — $200

WB Homes — $500

Physical Therapy and Wellness Institute — $100

Hatfield Beverage — $200

Edward Jones Investments — $500

TCB Marketing — $100

National Penn Bank — $300

Panico’s — $200

Cardinal Hollow Winery — $150

Shelly-Dinan Funeral Home — $100

PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce — $100

Friedman Shuman — $200

Rex Heat Treat — $500

Jane Maslowski — $100

Lansdale VFW — $1,000

Molly Maguire’s Pub — $100

Smoke Shack Pulled Pork — $100

Berk Wiper — $100

Harleysville Savings Bank — $100

EDS — $100

TJ Plastics — $100